There are few genuine competitors for the title “Most Quixotic career after winning an Oscar.” Nic Cage would seem to have it locked down. Cuba Gooding Jr. And Mo’nique are great examples of how hard it is to find work that measures up to a defining performance.

Adrien Brody? He marches to his own drummer. He’s not the workaholic Cage became, which in Cage’s case is thanks to tax issues and a desire to never be at rest and lost in his own head.

Brody still attracts the attention of good directors. Wes Anderson always has a role for him. But he’s not really a movie star. He can’t sell tickets based on his name in the credits.

“Clean,” which Brody produced, has him playing a recovering junkie with a fervent desire to keep his head down and get past “one day at a time.”

Then he’ss triggered into trying to save someone else. Is this junkie a man with “particular skills?” Could be.

We’ll find out Jan. 28.