REEL TALK: MOVIES RATED BY WRITE-OFFS WE’RE HOPING THE IRS DOESN’T NOTICE

THE RAVEN | ANTI-RAVEN BB GUN

As dumb as the plot sounds—creepy shit is happening to Edgar Allen Poe—Roger Ebert has noticed that, as a rule, John Cusack isn’t in bad movies. This is true at least 95% of the time. Think back to when you first heard about Hot Tub Time Machine and how awesome it turned out to be because of it. On the other hand, it is from director James McTeigue, who, in one movie, went from spectacular (V for Vendetta) to unwatchable (Ninja Assassin).[R | Wide Release, Fri 4.27.12]

TURN ME ON, DAMMIT! | CHASTITY BELT

This debut of writer-director Jannicke Systad Jacobsen (yep, this movie is Norwegian) began turning heads after winning Best Screenplay at Tribeca and Best Debut Film at the Rome Film Festival. It’s all about out-of-control hormones and that potent mix of horniness and romanticism that consumes your life as a teenager. But this is no American Pie—it’s from a young girl’s perspective and is winning praise for being funny, honest, lightweight and brazenly unapologetic in its lack of slut-shaming. [NR | Kendall Square Cinema, Fri 4.27.12]

THE GRADUATE | BIRTH CONTROL FOR AFFAIR WITH BOSS’ WIFE

The rebellion of the ‘60s wasn’t all hippies and sit-ins. Disdain for the old way of doing things was creeping into all walks of life. Enter The Graduate, the film equivalent of that square-looking guy at Occupy who leads all the marches. Dustin Hoffman plays a recent college grad who isn’t quite sure what to do with his life and doesn’t know how to react to everyone’s expectations of him. It’s cute, funny, sweet, and radical if you let it sink in. [PG | Coolidge Corner Theatre, Mon 4.30.12]

A CIVIL REMEDY | 2012 BUNKER

Sex trafficking seems like one of those problems that other countries have. You know, the ones that have UN troops stationed to take care of that sort of thing. Terrifyingly, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The Brattle is hosting a screening of A Civil Remedy, a short documentary that follows a girl who was forced into slavery after being abducted in Boston (who then escaped, finished school and became a celebrated advocate), followed by a panel of experts to discuss what you can do about it. [NR | Brattle Theatre, Thu 4.26.12]

THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT | TICKETS FROM 40 JUDD APATOW MOVIES LAST YEAR

I seem to be alone in the world in my dislike for Forgetting Sarah Marshall. I just felt that it claimed to be more upfront and honest than the rom-com it actually turned out to be. But writing buddies Jason Segel and director Nicholas Stoller have done bigger and better things since then, namely The Muppets. The trailer is funny and relatable, the pre-release hype is looking strong and bookies are now taking bets on whether you’ll see Segel’s wiener again. Sounds like a hit. [R | Wide Release, Fri 4.27.12]