'Birdman' Wins Best Picture At 87th Academy Awards, Alejandro González Iñárritu Wins Best Director

The results are in: Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “Birdman” is the best picture winner of the 87th Academy Awards. The film starring Michael Keaton tells the story of a down-and-out actor looking to get back into the spotlight with a passion project. The film was produced by Alejandro González Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan and James W. Skotchdopole, who were on-hand to accept the award at the rushed conclusion of the Oscars telecast.

“Birdman” beat out fellow nominees "Boyhood," "The Imitation Game," "American Sniper," "The Theory of Everything," "The Grand Budapest Hotel," "Selma" and "Whiplash." Its win effectively settled the heated battle between “Boyhood” and “Birdman,” while skirting the controversial campaigns of “The Imitation Game” and “American Sniper.” This is director Alejandro González Iñárritu’s first best picture and best director Oscar wins.

The savory win for the cast and crew of "Birdman" comes at the end of a colorful night at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, including a recreated scene from the movie by host Neil Patrick Harris. Controversy over the Academy’s lack of diversity was joked about earlier in the ceremony, but in tonight's ceremony González Iñárritu became the first three-time Latino Oscar winner. In his acceptance speech, González Iñárritu mentioned issues facing Mexicans and Mexican Americans, "I pray that we can find & build a government that we deserve. And the ones that live in this country that they can be treated with the same dignity and respect as ones that came before in this great nation."

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