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Oscars Spread Around Awards To 'Birdman,' 'Boyhood,' 'Ida'

LOS ANGELES (CBSNewYork/AP) -- In an Academy Awards largely populated by smaller, independent films, Hollywood spread its awards around at a stormy Oscars heavy on song-and-dance, occasionally lacking in clothes and punctuated by passionate stands for equality.

The long take of ``Birdman'' has stretched all the way to the Academy Awards, where the jazzy, surreal comedy about an actor fleeing his superhero past, took Hollywood's top honor of best picture.

PHOTOS: The 87th Annual Academy Awards

Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne won Oscars for Best Actress and Best Actor.

``I can't believe this is happening!'' said a dazed Moore as she stepped off stage after winning the best actress Oscar for her role in ``Still Alice.''

``The Theory of Everything'' star Eddie Redmayne was considered the Oscar front-runner for best actor, but his oversized reaction when he won gave no hint of entitlement.

``I don't think I'm capable of articulating quite how I feel. --- But please know that I'm fully aware I'm a lucky, lucky man,'' the British actor said at Sunday's ceremony.

Tony Awards veteran Neil Patrick Harris gave the 87th Academy Awards a chipper tone that sought to celebrate Hollywood, while also slyly parodying it.

MORE: Complete List Of Winners

``Tonight we honor Hollywood's best and whitest -- I mean brightest,'' he began the night, alluding to the much-discussed lack of diversity in this year's all-white acting nominees.

It was the first salvo in a night that often reverberated with heartfelt pleas for change.

Patricia Arquette, who won best supporting actress for "Boyhood," took the opportunity during her acceptance speech to call for wage equality and equal rights for women in America.

"To every woman who gave birth, to every tax payer and citizen of this nation: we have fought for every body else's equal rights. It's our time to have wage equality once and for all, and equal rights for women in the United States of America," Arquette said.

``Made my night.'' Meryl Streep said to Patricia Arquette backstage.

It was the first Oscar for Arquette. She also won the Golden Globe in January.

Tears streamed down the face of David Oyelowo, who played the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in ``Selma'' and was famously left out of the best actor nominees, during the rousing performance of the song ``Glory'' from the film. Immediately afterward, Common and Legend accepted the best song Oscar with a speech that drew a standing ovation.

``We say that `Selma' is now because the struggle for justice is right now,'' said Legend. He noted that the Voting Rights Act, whose passage is chronicled in ``Selma,'' has been drastically scaled down in recent years.

Graham Moore, who won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for ``The Imitation Game,'' said in his acceptance speech that he tried to commit suicide as a teenager.

``When I was 16, I tried to kill myself because I felt weird and I felt different and I felt like I did not belong,'' he said. ``I would like this moment to be for the kid out there who feels like she's weird and different and feels like she doesn't belong. --- Yes, you do.''

The next time someone takes the stage who's been through a similar ordeal, please pass that same message to the next person,'' he said to applause.

Polish director Pawel Pawlikowski went from directing a black-and-white movie that inspires silent contemplation to being at the ``epicenter of noise,'' the Oscars, he said visibly amused, as he accepted the prize for best foreign film for ``Ida'."

The win marks the first foreign language Oscar for Poland despite nine previous nominations and a rich history of filmmaking, including by renowned directors like Andrzej Wajda and Roman Polanski.

"Big Hero 6'' won the Academy Award for best animated feature.

The Disney film -- based on a Marvel comic about a team of superheroes -- tells the story of a tech nerd named Hiro and a lovable roly-poly robot, Baymax. The 3D animated feature was directed by Don Hall and Chris Williams.

The film won in a category that sparked controversy because of the omission of what many considered a certain nominee: "The Lego Movie.''

Notably missing from this year's In Memoriam segment was Joan Rivers.

New Yorkers Weigh In On 87th Academy Awards

But before all the action began, stars graced the red carpet on Hollywood's biggest night of the year.

Anna Kendrick, Host Neil Patrick Harris and ``Boyhood'' nominee Ethan Hawke all arrived at Sunday's Academy Awards with waves to the fans along the red carpet.

Harris waved to fans while strutting by in a dapper grey suit, with his husband David Burtka, while Patricia Arquette blew kisses to the crowd. Hawke soon followed, giving fans a thumb's up.

Kendrick, wearing a peach colored gown, flashed a devil's sign in a saucy move not entirely unexpected of the ``Pitch Perfect'' actress.

Alternating moments of stormy weather and bright sun proved a challenge for the red carpet this year. Pink towels were handed out to wet arrivals.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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