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As sure as Simon Cowell spends the New Year in Barbados on a jet-ski so the New Year in 'film world' means awards-type movies. Nice for Simon, nice for his jet-ski and nice for us cinema-goers.

Moody Viggo Mortensen kicks things off with the brilliantly bleak 'The Road', playing a dad caring for his son in a post-apocalyptic America. It's tough, yes - but it will also make grown men cry. Blub yourself silly from 8th Jan. We've got an exclusive clip of it online here.

The following week, George Clooney - that bloke from the coffee ads - gives his best performance in years in 'Up In The Air', from the director of Juno. 'Gorgeous' George plays a workaholic travelling businessman who can't deal with the uncertainties of everyday life, as fragile as he is suave. But it's Twilight's Anna Kendrick who steals it, as GC's perky new sidekick. I think I actually love her. You can see a clip of it here.

And finally in a particularly macho month - chick flicks normally come out around Easter - there's 'A Prophet', a French film following a prisoner's 'journey' (Copyright: X-Factor) from new boy in the slammer to jailbird bigwig. It also manages to subtley play on racial tensions whilst it's at it. Tres bon. Experience something special when A Prophet opens on 22nd Jan. You can see some pictures of it here.