Oscars: 'Birdman' bests 'Boyhood'

"Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" took Best Picture at the 87^th Academy Awards. The film stars Michael Keaton as what IMDb describes as a "washed-up actor who once played an iconic superhero" fighting to reclaim his family, himself and, with a Broadway play on the horizon, his once-promising career.

"Boyhood," a film in which director Richard Linklater chronicles the life of Mason (actor Ellar Coltrane) from age 5-18, was the early frontrunner. It was shot over the course of 12 years.

Top winners Sunday included:

Best Picture

• "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)," Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher and James W. Skotchdopole

Actor in a Leading Role

• Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything"

Actress in a Leading Role

• Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"

Actor in a Supporting Role

• J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"

Actress in a Supporting Role

• Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"

Directing

• Alejandro G. Iñárritu, "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" 

Animated Feature Film

• "Big Hero 6," Don Hall, Chris Williams and Roy Conli

Documentary Feature

• "CitizenFour," Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy and Dirk Wilutzky

Foreign Language Film

• "Ida" (Poland), directed by Pawel Pawlikowski

Music - Original Song

• "Glory" from "Selma"; music and lyric by John Stephens (John Legend) and Lonnie Lynn (Common)