Birdman buoyed in Oscars bellwether

Los Angeles

DARK comedy Birdman boosted its Oscars hopes after landing the top prize at the 21st Screen Actors Guild Awards, a barometer of likely success at the all-important Academy Awards.

The film, about a washed up superhero movie star attempting to revive his career on Broadway, took the SAG equivalent of the Oscars Best Picture with victory in the outstanding performance by a cast category.

The comedy emerged victorious on Sunday ahead of coming-of-age drama Boyhood, Wes Anderson's screwball caper The Grand Budapest…