BY
Joe Neumaier and Ethan Sacks With Nancy Dillon
“Birdman” took home the top prize at Sunday’s 87th Annual Academy Awards, another feather in the cap in a big night night for the indie drama.
The cinematic wet kiss to actors and their artistic demons took home four statuettes, besting presumed favorite “Boyhood,” a 12-years-in-the-making drama of American youth, and the insurgent threat of “American Sniper,” the lone blockbuster among the eight nominees for top film.
“Birdman” helmer Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu also took home the best director Oscar, quipping that he was wearing the real briefs that Michael Keaton donned in his movie for luck.
“They are really tight,” said Iñárritu.There were few surprises with the acting awards as Julianne Moore was named best actress for portrayal of a woman battling early onset Alzheimer’s and Eddie Redmayne won best actor for his turn as ALS-ravaged physicist Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything,”
Twelve years of work paid off for “Boyhood’s” Patricia Arquette in an emotional moment as the actress nabbed the statuette for best supporting actress – and used the adulation to make a political statement.
Arquette dedicated the award “to every woman who gave birth,” and used her acceptance speech to call for equal wages for women.
J.K. Simmons drummed up the first Oscar of his long career and the first major honor of the night, winning best supporting actor for his acclaimed performance in “Whiplash.”
If there was an award for best choice in hosting, Neil Patrick Harris could have been a shoo-in. The former Tony and Emmy Award host kicked off Hollywoood’s biggest night with a comedic musical number for the ages, “Moving Pictures,” that featured backup from Anna Kendrick and Jack Black — and dancing “Star Wars” stormtroopers.
In one memorable bit he parodied the classic scene in “Birdman” where Michael Keaton was locked out of his theater in only his underwear…by rushing on the stage completely nude except for his white briefs.
“Birdman’s” first award of the evening went to Emmanuel Lubezki for acheivement in cinematography. The movie also won for best original screenplay.
“The Imiation Game’s” Graham Moore won for best adapted screenplay.
“When I was 16 I tried to kill myself because I felt weird and different,” said Moore during his acceptance speech, which quickkly became an anti-suicide plea to those who feel “weird” and “different.”
“American Sniper” already won the battle of hearts and minds with the ticket-buying public, having grossed $319 million (and counting) at the box office. The biopic won its first award of the night for best sound editing.
The only other film to match “Birdman’s” nine nominations going into the telecast, “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” was also strong going into Sunday night’s ceremony.
And the Wes Anderson-directed quirky flick dominated early with four wins for best costume design (Milena Canonero), production design (Adam Stockhausen and Anna Pinnock), makeup (Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier) and best original score.
“Whiplash” also surprised, with unexpected wins for acheivement in film editing and sound mixing. The editing award is particularly interesting, since the winner in the category usually also wins best picture.
Outside Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, there was drama of a different kind. Civil rights groups had planned to steal the spotlight as protesters angry about the lack of diversity at the Oscars mobilized in force.
Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, the civil rights group Southern Christian Leadership Conference [SCLC] and the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable were part of the demonstration, prompted by the exclusion of black actors in all four of the acting categories and the poor showing of “Selma,” which notched just two nominations.
But there was a last-minute rewriting of plans.
“I received a phone call from the director of Selma, Ava DuVerny, and she asked that we not protest,” National Action Network political director Najee Ali told the Daily News. “She thought it would be better if we reached out to the Academy president directly with our complaints.
“I agreed to cancel the protest after consulting with Rev. Al Sharpton.”
Instead, Ali said the groups would call for a sitdown with Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the first black president of the Academy.
Patricia Arquette calls for equal wages for women during her acceptance speech after winning the best supporting actress Oscar.
Reports have put that Academy membership as 95% white, with men making up 76% of the body at an average age of 63. Boone has said the movie organization is “committed to seeking out diversity of voice and opinion.”
“Selma,” the drama about the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., was given only best picture and best song nominations, with DuVernay and lead actor David Oyelowo shut out of their respective categories.
Harris made note of the omission, introducing the actor in a segment and when the audience applauded, he admonished, “Oh, sure, now you like him.”
The film’s signature song, “Glory,” performed live by John Legend and rapper Common, provided a rousing highpoint in the telecast – and won for best original song shortly afterwards.
Edward Snowden doc, “Citizenfour,” won as expected in the best documentary feature category.
“Edward Snowden couldn’t be here for some treason,” quipped Harris.
Disney dominated the animation categories, with “Big Hero 6” upsetting favorite “How to Train Your Dragon 2” for best animated film and completing the sweep as “Feast” won for best animated short film.”Interstellar,” director Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi opus, was in an orbit of its own for best visual effects.
It didn’t require subtitles to understand director Pawel Pawlikowski’s enthusiasm at Poland’s first Oscar for “Ida” and his endearing refusal to be played off the stage in the midst of his acceptance speech. “The Phone Call,” from England, was dialed in for best live action short film, while the best documentary short went to “Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1.”
COURTESY:NEW YORK DAILY NEWS