After a racial slur and an underdog narrative, 'Sinners' elevated its chances for Oscar gold

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Delroy Lindo flashed a grateful smile as he and “Sinners’ producer-writer-director Ryan Coogler took in a rousing standing ovation at last month’s NAACP Image Awards.“We appreciate all the support we’ve been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend,” the veteran actor said in his first public appearance following the uproar that erupted when he and fellow “Sinners” star Michael B.Jordan were confronted with a racial slur at the BAFTA Awards six days prior.

Added Lindo: “It’s a classic case of something that could have been very negative becoming very positive.”That positivity, some awards prognosticators contend, may have moved “Sinners” within striking distance of the winner’s circle at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards.Jordan’s and Lindo’s handling of the BAFTA incident, along with warmly received victories for the “Sinners” cast at the Actor Awards on March 1, has given the Warner Bros.release unexpected momentum leading up to Sunday’s Oscars ceremony.Although it received a record-breaking 16 nominations, the film has been largely overshadowed through much of awards season by Paul Thomas Anderson’s political thriller “One Battle After Another.” And Timothée Chalamet of “Marty Supreme” had been considered for months as an almost-certain lock for lead actor.

But the events in past weeks have seemingly positioned “Sinners” for upset wins in the picture race and lead actor for Jordan.The slur at the BAFTA Awards was not an intentional hate bomb, but it still carries the weight of its history and stings.The fresh energy marks a stunning turnaround for a film that scored critical acclaim and a massive response from filmgoers since its release last April, but has also encountered unflattering headlines, snubs and what some observers have labeled a racially biased “whitelash.”The film, a horror drama set in 1932, dr...