Oscar predictions: Why ‘Sinners’ may be poised for a big night

With the 98th Academy Awards airing Sunday night on ABC, here is my ballot on the major races — from Sean Penn and Jessie Buckley to whether Ryan Coogler’s Sinners can finish its awards-season surge.

Michael B. Jordan as Stack in “Sinners.” Photo courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.

We are now just days away from the 98th Academy Awards, airing Sunday at 7 p.m. on ABC — one of the biggest nights of the year for cinephiles and a rare moment when broader audiences are introduced to a diverse slate of films that shaped the cinematic conversation over the past year.

That alone makes Oscar prediction season part of the fun.