How did Reel People score on Oscar predictions?

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Ron Martel reports that he and Leigh were enjoying “too much fun” in Hawaii and didn’t get to a movie last week. Therefore, they didn’t do a review. Happily, however, they did remember to bring along a copy of The Friday Flyer for their “Near and Far with The Friday Flyer” picture.

The Reel People have missed just five (possibly six) weeks of reviewing movies in the 11.5 years they’ve been writing reviews for The Friday Flyer. This also is the first year they’ve missed hosting their annual black-tie Academy Awards party since beginning their column. However, they did provide their predictions for last week’s issue.

The Reel People’s predictions for the major awards are listed first with Ron’s description of the projected winner. The actual winner follows.

Projected Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Revenant.” In the most physically challenging role of his career, DiCaprio delivers a viscerally raw performance in this brutal tale of man vs. nature, revenge and the ultimate test of human endurance. ACTUAL WINNER: Leonardo DiCaprio

Projected Best Actress: Brie Larson, “Room.” In the breakout role of her career she is cast as a strong but traumatized kidnapping survivor, who spent seven years in a crude shed. Upon release, she courageously faces a complex world that has passed her by. ACTUAL WINNER: Brie Larson

Projected Supporting Actor: Sylvester Stallone “Creed.” Sporting a frumpy fedora and horn-rimmed glasses, Rocky faces internal struggles but packs a punch with a warm, witty and sympathetic rendering in the tone of Morgan Freeman’s “Million Dollar Baby” (2004). ACTUAL WINNER: Mark Rylance, “Bridge of Spies,” a classic Cold War espionage thriller directed by Steven Spielberg.

Projected Supporting Actress: Alicia Vikander, “The Danish Girl.” The rapidly rising Swedish star has turned in yet another bravura performance. As wife of one of the first male-to-female sex change surgery in 1926, her life changed nearly as much as his (hers?). ACTUAL WINNER: Alicia Vikander

Projected Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, “The Revenant.” Iñárritu places the viewer realistically into each scene of this chilling drama (pun intended), filmed with spectacular beauty exemplifying the overwhelming and unforgiving forces of nature. ACTUAL WINNER: Alejandro G. Iñárritu. This is a back-to-back win for Iñárritu, who won best director for “Birdman” last year.

Projected Best Picture: “The Revenant.” A hunter in 1823 is mauled by a grisly bear and left for dead. His 200-mile trek through arduous terrain and frigid conditions illustrates the power of the human spirit, but leaves the audience physically and emotionally spent. ACTUAL WINNER: “Spotlight,” about the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into decades of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church; the film also won an Oscar for best original screenplay. The journalism drama became the sixth best picture winner in history to only win two awards on Oscar night, and the first since 1952.

So Reel People got 8 of 10 correct. Final rating? B+