Evidence doesn't appear to favor "Michael Clayton"

Next up in our look at this year's best-picture nominees: "Michael Clayton."

If "Juno" is the year's little movie that could, "Michael Clayton" just might be the big movie that couldn't. That's through no fault of its own: Tony Gilroy's tale of a corporate lawyer turned "fixer" is a terrific film. Tautly paced, meticulously cast and crackling with too-rarely-seen smarts, it's a studio film that feels original and bracing; you never know quite where the story is heading. And yet, despite strong reviews and word-of-mouth (not to mention George Clooney in top form), audiences didn't come. "Michael Clayton" became the year's most inexplicable box-office disappointment, making less than $40 million in its original release. Hoping to capitalize on Oscar buzz, Warner Bros. rereleased it Jan. 25 on approximately 1,000 screens. Its current total? About $44 million.

Of course, there's more to a film than box office, and "Michael Clayton" has been nominated for numerous year-end awards. But there's an alarming pattern there, too. Four Golden Globe nominations; no wins. Three Screen Actors Guild nominations; no wins. Seven Academy Award nominations; none favored to win. All are deserving: Think of Tilda Swinton's desperate vulnerability as a corporate lawyer in over her head; Tom Wilkinson's Lear-like bluster as a man struggling to do what's right; the intricate time-swirls of Gilroy's screenplay. But come Oscar night, "Michael Clayton" most likely will be a seven-time bridesmaid; never a bride.

Oscar trivia

Last week's trivia question noted that Ruby Dee worked in television soap operas early in her career, and asked which other current acting nominees also did so. At least three of them: Tommy Lee Jones (nominated for best actor for "In the Valley of Elah") did time on "One Life to Life" in the early '70s, Viggo Mortensen (best actor, "Eastern Promises") began his career on "Search for Tomorrow" and Amy Ryan (best supporting actress, "Gone Baby Gone") turned up on "As the World Turns."

This week's question: Two of this year's best-picture nominees have titles that simply consist of a character's name: "Michael Clayton" and "Juno." What was the last similarly titled best-picture winner? (Bonus question: What was the last best-picture nominee titled for a person who actually attended the ceremony?)

Moira Macdonald: 206-464-2725 mmacdonald@seattletimes.com