Delivering a masterclass in intelligence, restraint, and unexpected humor, Delroy Lindo’s work in Sinners grounds the film with a performance that resonates long after the credits roll. Subtle yet essential, his presence elevates the entire film and makes a compelling case for serious Oscar consideration in Best Supporting Actor race.

Lindo’s performance as Delta Slim in Sinners is the kind of work the Academy was created to recognize: precise, expansive, humorous, and quietly revelatory. In a film defined by emotional risk and cultural tension, Lindo delivers a supporting turn that deepens every scene he enters, shaping the story’s humor and emotional weight without ever taking the spotlight away from his talented costars. 

What distinguishes Lindo here is a mastery of restraint. Rather than leaning into grand gestures during emotional and vulnerable moments, he builds Delta Slim’s character through calibrated choices. These include a perfectly paced, unhurried line reading, a look that may linger a beat longer, and a physical stillness that suggests a lifetime of internal negotiation as a means of survival. These choices create a sense of lived-in complexity. You feel Delta Slim’s history even when the script leaves a majority of it unspoken, and that subtext enriches the film’s emotional core. 

Crucially, Lindo also understands the power of humor as character revelation. In Sinners, his comedic moments are never broad or showy; they arrive dry, sideways, and often at moments when the film feels most suspenseful. A well-times remark or a subtly amused reaction cuts through said tension, not to deflate it, but sharpen it. The laughter he earns is brief and knowing, the kind that exposes a type of self-awareness and emotional armor all at once. These flashes of wit help humanize the character, reminding us that moral seriousness and humor often coexist in real life – and that levity can be a survival mechanism as much as pleasure. 

Lindo also serves as a crucial counterweight to the film’s central performances. His scenes crackle with tension not because he is overpowering his scene partners, but because he listens – actively and intelligently – and responds in ways that subtly redirect the narrative’s energy. This is supporting acting in the truest sense: elevating others while simultaneously carving out an indelible presence of his own. The film would still function without him, but it would not resonate nearly as deeply. 

There is also a moral intelligence to Lindo’s performance that feels especially rare these days. Sinners ask difficult questions about accountability, compromise, and consequence, among others. Lindo embodies those questions rather than answering them outright. His character resists easy categorization, and Lindo leans into that ambiguity, allowing discomfort and contradiction to coexist. The result is a portrayal that trusts the audience (something becoming increasingly uncommon) that pays off in a lasting impact. 

Lindo has long been one of our most formidable yet underrated actors, and Sinners stands as another reminder of his extraordinary range and discipline. This performance does not beg for attention; it earns it. For its emotional depth, narrative importance, at times laugh-out-loud moments, and exemplary craft, Lindo’s work in Sinners deserves serious consideration for a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards.

Sinners is currently streaming on HBO Max.
You can read our review here.