From an email:

Harrison Recreation Center (between 13th & 14th on V Street, NW). The gates open at 7 pm, and a DJ will play until sundown when the movie starts. Harrison Recreation Center is being renovated, but the field is open for sports use and the movie series.

Three years ago, a group of Star Wars fans decided to remake Star Wars: A New Hope out of fan-generated scenes. Now, the Star Wars Uncut project has finally The U Street Movie Series Kick off Wednesday evening, June 19^th with Star Wars Uncut at the come to fruition with a Director’s Cut, a two-hour+ YouTube video created entirely by crowdsourcing.

When fans were encouraged by organizer and fan Casey Pugh to recreate the Star Wars movie in 15-second segments, they were given free reign to do whatever they wanted. Out of the thousands of wildly creative scenes, video editor Aaron Valdez and sound designer and mixer Bryan Pugh picked the best of the bunch, putting together this whimsical Director’s Cut, a rip-roaring re-creation of the George Lucas film.

Movies for the balance of the series are:

July 17th – The Nine Lives of Marion Barry
August 21st – Summer Wars (anime)
September 18th – The Legend of Cool “Disco” Dan

From a press release:

Friends of Screen on the Green, along with HBO and Comcast, are proud to announce Screen on the Green’s summer line up. This year’s film festival kicks off on Monday, July 22 with a showing of the 1982 classic sci-fi movie “E.T.”

The free outdoor event will continue with screenings on Monday evenings at sunset through August 12 with movies shown on a giant 20’ by 40’ screen between 7th and 12th Streets on the National Mall.

“This year’s lineup is one of the best we’ve ever seen – it is a true celebration of modern American cinema,” said Jesse B Rauch, President and founder of Friends of Screen on the Green. “We are extremely grateful HBO, Comcast, and the entire DC community for their continued enthusiasm and support, and look forward to being able to enjoy these classic films for many years to come.”

The lineup for Screen on the Green 2013 is:

July 22 – E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
July 29 – Norma Rae
August 5 – Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
August 12 – Tootsie

Working with HBO and Comcast, “Friends of Screen on the Green” is devoted to promoting and preserving Screen on the Green and other outdoor movie festivals in the Washington, DC Metro area.

Screen on the Green is a remarkable free summer movie series that provides a tribute to classic films. Each screening attracts approximately 15,000 Washingtonians and tourists, making this one of the largest community events in the District of Columbia.

Going to the Movies is written by Mount Vernon Triangle resident Catherine Taegel.

Ever since the creation of Instagram, when I watch an indie movie I’m often reminded of a #nofilter picture. There tends to be a lot of nature – trees, fields, and water – all with the sun artfully peering through and reflecting off of various objects. There also tends to be young love and friendships explained through those classic close ups that create tension.

There’s a reason Instagram was bought for $1 billion by Facebook and why the independent movies who can do it right immediately become a beautiful picture you can’t, and don’t want to, stop watching. Set and filmed in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, “The Kings of Summer” manages to hit all the right notes. It’s a beautiful cinematic experience that manages to stay relatable by never taking itself too seriously.

The film is a broad cast of characters that effortlessly revolves around Joe Toy (Nick Robinson), a sixteen-year-old boy whose home life is less than ideal. His family is clearly still grieving from the loss of Joe’s mother and with his sister living away from home, he’s left with just his dad (Nick Offerman) whose general demeanor is cloudy on a good day. He constantly pushes the boundaries, desperate for independence and to be seen as a man.

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His best friend, Patrick, has issues of his own. Patrick’s overbearing parents (Megan Mullally and Marc Evan Jackson) are causing him to break out in a rash all over his body. When Joe proposes building a house deep in the woods and running away Patrick initially resists but inevitably agrees. Joined by Biaggio, an oddball loner, they begin their summer adventure by thieving and scheming. While deep in the woods, their friendships are inevitably tested by girls, nature, and that youthful longing of being able to make it on your own.

The movie is a journey of self-discovery, not just for the teenage boys at the center but for the broad cast of characters who come to terms with their own flaws. Robinson plays Joe perfectly – confident, insecure and incredibly charismatic. He hit sixteen-years-old on the head and his ability to lead without being overbearing allowed the other characters in the movie to also have their moments. In particular, Offerman’s performance nearly stole the movie. You can see the “Parks and Recreation” star invoking Ron Swanson with his dry, sarcastic nature and it works.

Purposefully or not, I was immediately reminded of Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom”, but “The Kings of Summer” held its ground. While I loved Moonrise Kingdom, each scene was planned to an artistic tee. It was brilliant and sweet but it was so perfectly pieced together. The greatness of “The Kings of Summer” is that it doesn’t try to be a perfect indie movie but just a good story that is held up by great actors. A 2013 Sundance nominee, “The Kings of Summer” makes you feel good and movies like that are worth going to see.

“The Kings of Summer” can be seen in limited release starting May 31, 2013.

From a press release:

The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) will offer a series of outdoor movies this summer in partnership with The Heurich House Museum. The “Golden Cinema Series” will be shown in the courtyard of the Heurich House Museum on Fridays, June 7- July 12. All films are free and open to the public. Gates to the Heurich House Museum courtyard will open at 8 p.m. and the movies will start at sunset.

Films selected for the “Golden Cinema Series” were produced during the ‘Golden Age of Hollywood,’ including three films from the 1940’s and two films from the 1950’s. The five features are: Casablanca on June 7, Rear Window on June 14, Some Like It Hot on June 28, Yankee Doodle Dandy to be shown on July 5 in honor of the Independence Day weekend, and, The Philadelphia Story on July 12. Iconic personalities from Hollywood, including Ingrid Bergman, Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe, Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant, star in the movies.

Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket, and to make a night of the “Golden Cinema Series” in the garden of one of D.C.’s finest Victorian-era homes.

The Heurich House Museum is located at 1307 New Hampshire Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., south of Dupont Circle and a block from the south entrance of the Dupont Circle Metro station. The gates to the courtyard are located on Sunderland Place NW.

From a press release:

NoMa Summer Screen is a free, 13-week outdoor film series in NoMa, Washington, D.C.’s fastest growing neighborhood. Every Wednesday from May 22 to August 21, hundreds of neighbors gather at 7 p.m. for music, giveaways, food trucks, picnicking, and fun for the whole family. Films start at dark. All movies are screened with subtitles. Coolers, children and friendly (leashed) dogs are welcome.

Outlaw Heroes:

* May 22: Indiana Jones: Last Crusade
* May 29: Star Trek (The Future Begins, 2009)
* June 5: The Princess Bride
* June 12: The Italian Job (2003)
* June 19: Goonies
* June 26: Breakfast Club
* July 3: The Fugitive
* July 10: Bridesmaids
* July 17: Moonrise Kingdom
* July 24: True Grit
* July 31: Hunger Games
* August 7: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
* August 14: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
* August 21: Tentative Rain Date

Thanks to Chris for sending the photos from Hillyer Place by Connecticut Ave.

Chris Evans:

Going to the Movies is written by Mount Vernon Triangle resident Catherine Taegel.

It’s been eight years since “Wedding Crashers.” It’s been eight years since Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson were Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson – the most hilarious guys in the room that you really want to hang out with. Okay, they’re still funny – of course, they’re buddies who play well off each other– but they’ve softened. Once upon a time they were insanely funny and semi-nice guys, but now they’re really nice guys who are semi-funny. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but it doesn’t make for a strong film. They’ve lost their edge and in the process we have been brought a poorly executed nice idea. A story by Vince Vaughn, “The Internship” is the film we wanted to be good but knew was going to bad.

“The Internship” focuses on two former watch salesmen – Billy (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Owen Wilson) – whose outdated skills have them searching for a way to reinvent themselves and get back into the job market. Vince Vaughn google’s Google and finds the opportunity – a summer internship that has the potential to leads to a full-time job. As recently enrolled students at Phoenix University, Billy and Nick land an interview for the internship via Skype. They get accepted into the program and the minute they arrive at the Google campus they are ostracized by other interns and members of the staff. The old guys get grouped with the Google intern outcasts. The groups are put through a series of tests and whoever wins the most wins the full-time jobs. Can you guess how that turns out?

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The film really pushes the fact that Vaughn and Owen are two old guys who don’t seem to have a clue what being in 2013 actually means. It pushes that the 20 something year-olds are completely disconnected from each other and at times reality. It pushes the fact that both generations have something to learn from each other and can come together. It’s not a terrible premise, but something was off. The stars were too nice. Even worse, all the characters were played out.

As expected, Vince Vaughn was the fast talking borderline pathetic sap who just can’t seem to get it right. As expected, Owen Wilson was the slightly smarter portion of the duo who gets the girl. Sounds like familiar territory. There were funny and slightly endearing scenes but the movie wasn’t fresh and the acting was mediocre.  Was I entertained? Sure. Supporting roles by John Goodman and Aasif Mandvi along with cameos by Will Ferrell (you saw that coming), B.J Novak, and Rob Riggle definitely helped the film out.

But did I also feel like I was watching Google propaganda? Yea, I did. It was an hour and half of a work-life that consists of seminars during the work day, free food and drink, casual Friday every day, naps in little egg sleep chambers. You can’t buy that kind of publicity – or can you……? It was weird and with so many great movies out there please don’t waste your money on this one. You can wait for it to come to Netflix, Amazon, or OnDemand. Trust me.

“The Internship” is in theaters nationwide on June 7, 2013.

Going to the Movies is written by Mount Vernon Triangle resident Catherine Taegel.

I didn’t know what to expect when I went to see the Scottish film, “The Angels’ Share”, at E Street Cinema. (I try to never read reviews or in-depth descriptions of movies before I go see them so everything is fresh.) When subtitles appeared on the screen before a word was spoken I was nervous. Not that I mind subtitles, but I tend to get distracted by reading the words that I miss out on parts of the movie. Soon though thick Scottish accents filled the air and the subtitles were more of a guide than a necessity.

The movie focuses on young Robbie (Paul Brannigan), who’s had rough times growing up in Glasgow. His enemies are carried through generations and his rough past has landed him in issues with the law again and again. His pregnant girlfriend wants him to get it together and her family wants him out of town. Realizing he’s probably on his last chance, Robbie focuses in on straightening out and being a good dad. While working to pay off his debt to society he becomes a part of a “community repayment” program and forms bonds with several of the other members of the group.

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Harry (John Henshaw), the father-like figure who manages the community repayment program, takes a particular interest in helping Robbie. On a day off from the community repayment program, Harry takes members of the group to tour a whiskey distillery. Down on himself and certain he’ll never get a job, Robbie takes an interest in whiskey – how it’s made and it’s different tastes. His delinquent mates entertain the new hobby and follows his lead. There isn’t too much debauchery between them but “cunt” was uttered often throughout the film. Crass but kind – with the exception of one scene – the humor never went too far.

The focus on whiskey and chance encounters took the film from Glasgow into the hills of Scotland. The film was clever and self-effacing. No one tried too hard and the film had a strangely natural flow. Paul Brannigan plays Robbie well – cool, vulnerable, and likeable all at the same time. He is a clear film leader and his absurd mates – Mo, the klepto; Albert, the shmuck, and Rhino, the doofus – play off of him well. Harry – the lovable father figure – was by far my favorite and although he didn’t end up having a large amount of time on screen his presence was felt throughout the film.

Offbeat, heartfelt, and genuine. A 2012 Cannes Film ‘Jury Prize’ winner, “The Angels’ Share” is a humorous, enjoyable film. It kept the audience laughing but had a tenderness all its own.

The following was written by ‘Going to the Movies’ contributor and Mount Vernon Triangle resident, Catherine Taegel.

Filmfest D.C. isn’t the area’s only international film festival, it was the first and it’s certainly the biggest. This year the festival is 27 years old and movie showings span over two weeks and eight venues. Last week Tony Gittens, the Director and founder of the DC International Film Festival, released a statement regarding the future of Filmfest D.C. Unfortunately, for D.C. and the surrounding metropolitan area, right now the future looks grim.

Even with 23,000 filmgoers attending in 2011, economic times are tough and ticket sales don’t cover even half of Filmfest D.C.’s budget. Around 60% of D.C. Filmfest’s budget is made up of donations. The big donors include the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and the D.C. government. According to the statement, both donors provided less than expected funding and Mr. Gittens didn’t see it coming. Costs continue to rise and D.C. Filmfest had been diving into reserves even before the untimely cut in funds.

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D.C. natives are acutely aware that we are not L.A. and we are not New York, but it’s fair to say we hold our own. We have great theaters with shows that appeal to all styles and wallets (Woolly Mammoth’s deals can’t be beat); a diverse, interesting, and growing food scene (Daikaya is really good); and a weekend can’t go by without events at the Verizon and Convention Centers. And oh yea, DC has over a dozen free museums and countless monuments. Just take a ten minute walk downtown and you’re bound to find something interesting to see and do. D.C. may not be inherently known for film, but we hold our own there too. We all know E Street Cinema and AFI Silver Theater, but there’s also West End Cinema, Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse, Avalon Theater, and, the historical landmark, the Uptown. Embassy’s and local cultural centers (Goethe Institut) often host film screenings as well.

Films are important not just because they entertain us, but because films are part of our historical record. They capture our times and not only help us escape from the every day, but can be powerful enough to teach us. Those of us in the D.C. metro area often take for granted the pure access we have to so much diverse cultural offerings. There’s just so much of it. With something like the D.C. Filmfest being around for 27 years, our expectation is to see it again next year.

However, this cultural cornerstone is actually in danger, and as active members of our community it’s on us to help the film scene continue to hold its own. With that being said, I’ll leave you with Mr. Gittens final plea:

“We call upon city officials and the Washington business community to consider the tremendous benefits the Washington, DC International Film Festival makes to our city. Contributions from individuals (filmfestdc.org) and supportive letters to government officials (copied to filmfestdc@filmfestdc.org) are also appreciated. The city will lose a great asset if the festival is unable to continue and we need your help to ensure that does not happen.”

From a press release:

Mark your calendars now for NoMa Summer Screen, the neighborhood’s most anticipated event of the year, with 13 weeks of OUTLAW HERO films! Now in its sixth year, the award-winning outdoor film series will feature classic American westerns, space invasion thrillers, 80’s comedies, and more.

NoMa Summer Screen is a free, 13-week outdoor film series in NoMa, Washington, D.C.’s fastest growing neighborhood. Every Wednesday from May 22 to August 21, hundreds of neighbors gather at 7 p.m. for music, giveaways, food trucks, picnicking, and fun for the whole family. Films start at dark. All movies are screened with subtitles. Coolers, children and friendly (leashed) dogs are welcome.

Outlaw Heroes:

May 22: Indiana Jones: Last Crusade
May 29: Star Trek (The Future Begins, 2009)
June 5: The Princess Bride
June 12: The Italian Job (2003)
June 19: Goonies
June 26: Breakfast Club
July 3: The Fugitive
July 10: Bridesmaids
July 17: Moonrise Kingdom
July 24: True Grit
July 31: Hunger Games
August 7: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
August 14: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
August 21: Rain Date

Family Film Night at Sursum Corda schedule after the jump.

Now in its third year, the NoMa BID will also sponsor Family Film Night at Sursum Corda, where families and children gather for free family-centric movies (also fitting the ‘Outlaw Hero’ theme) and free food. Family Film Night will take place on four Tuesdays this summer:

June 18: How to Train Your Dragon
July 9: Brave
July 23: The Incredibles
August 6 (in conjunction with National Night Out): Toy Story 3

The event starts at 7 p.m. with kid-centric activities and free food. Films start at dark.