Hollywood, United States: The 87^th Academy Awards got underway on Sunday with host Neil Patrick Harris launching the show, after Hollywood’s brightest walked up a rain-soaked Oscars red carpet.

Dark comedy “Birdman” and coming-of-age drama “Boyhood” are widely expected to duel it out for the top prize of the night, best picture, to be awarded at the climax of the more than three-hour show.

Harris, hosting his first Oscars, kicked off the proceedings on an edgy note, saying it was a night to celebrate “Hollywood’s best and whitest—sorry, brightest”—a cutting reference to this year’s total lack of non-white acting nominees.

J.K. Simmons took the first Oscar of the evening, winning the best supporting actor prize for his performance in director Damien Chazelle’s indie jazz drumming drama “Whiplash.”