Dramatic comedy Birdman won four Oscars at the 87th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 22, 2015. The dark comedy reflected to Hollywood its struggling actors and was rewarded with the film industry’s highest recognition on Sunday, the Academy Award for best picture.

Director Alejandro G. Inarritu’s story of a washed up, formerly iconic superhero actor followed the character in the days leading up to the opening of a Broadway play. The actor attempts an improbable comeback on Broadway as he battles his ego and tries to recover with his family, his career and himself.

This best director award is the second consecutive win in the category for the Mexican filmmaker. Birdman took home awards for best director for Alejandro González Iñárritu, best cinematography and best original screenplay.

Acclaimed for resembling one continuous shot through a Broadway theater and mixing reality with fantasy, the movie came from learning to be fearless in filmmaking, “Fear is the condom of life. It doesn’t allow you to enjoy things,” Inarritu said backstage at the 87th Academy Awards.

Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel tied for most wins with four Academy Awards apiece during the Oscars ceremony Sunday night. The Grand Budapest Hotel won Oscars for costume design, original score, production design, and hair and makeup.

Neil Patrick Harris hosted the awards show that spanned more than three-and-a-half hours. Amongst many other energetic jokes and skits, he stripped down to his tighty-whities in honor of Birdman.  Sean Penn announced the best picture prize to Birdman by asking  “Who gave this SOB his green card?” Director Alejandro González Iñárritu got on stage for the third time that night to accept. Dedicating the award to “my fellow Mexicans, the ones that live in Mexico,” Iñárritu closes his speech with “I pray that we can find and build a government that we deserve.” He added, for those that live in America, he hopes they are “treated with the same dignity and respect” as the ones who came before them and helped build this country.