Say goodbye to 2007 and hello to 2008. It is January, the holiday festivities are done and it is time to get back to the grind. You know what that means. It means that for the next month we will be subjected to lower-tier films mixed with December Oscar-fodder as those films expand into more theaters.

The result of this intermingling of qualities will make for an interesting mix at the cineplex. Plenty of films to watch, so long as your taste is less discerning. I like to take in a mix of the two, catching up on the late 2007 releases and seeing if there are any surprises among the dreck. This weekend is not offering much in the way of anything in my area, so I may have to gas up the car and head further south for a better mix.

One Missed Call. (2008, 87 minutes, PG-13, horror, trailer) Here comes the latest import remake. One Missed Call first made an appearance in 2003 (called Chakushin ari) and was directed by one of Japan's twisted masters, Takashi Miike. Now, I have not seen the original yet, but while I bet it is likely good, I don't think it will reach the heights he climbed with the likes of Audition, Ichi the Killer, or Happiness of the Katikuris. As the story goes, your phone will ring, you will answer it and hear yourself dying, then you will die. That is the basic premise. The trailer for the remake has left me a little cold, but willing to try it out and get the 2008 season underway. This new version is being helmed by French filmmaker Eric Valette, making his English language debut. The cast includes Shannyn Sossamon, Edward Burns, Ray Wise, Johnny Lewis, and Margaret Cho.

Atonement. (2007, 123 minutes, R, drama, trailer) This critical favorite is finally expanding into my neck of the woods as it heads into its fourth weekend. I have been looking forward to seeing if this lives up to the acclaim. It stars Keira Knightley and James McAvoy in a story set in the shadows of WWII. It tells the story of three lives that are torn apart by a bad decision, so I gather from the description. The premise seems so simple, yet also seems full of potential for a moving tale. Time will tell. Joe Wright is at the helm, this being only his second feature after Pride and Prejudice.

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• The Killing of John Lennon

Box Office Predictions

The start of 2008 is upon us, a whole new year for bad predictions. With only one film hitting nationwide, and considering what it is, I do not think that it will dent the top three. Last week's top three are destined to repeat this week. The one movie that is going to make a big move will be Juno, the little film that could. It enters full-fledged wide release this weekend and I highly recommend that you make it a point to see it.

Here is how I think the top ten field will play out: