Our Picks

Can't Miss

1. SPEED RACER

[MOVIE] For their first foray into writing and directing since "The Matrix" trilogy, the Wachowski brothers took on the legendary Japanese TV series "Speed Racer." True to their roots, there%u2019s enough flashing lights, high-speed action and over-the-top animation here to satisfy the most discerning CGI connoisseur %u2014 even a peek at the trailer feels like an epileptic moment. Emile Hirsch stars as Speed Racer, the aggressive, fearless driver striving to fulfill the legacy of his deceased brother, Rex Racer, while Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon and John Goodman round out the cast.

Friday. .

2. EL-P AND DIZZEE RASCAL

[CONCERT] Hip-hop innovators El-P and Dizzee Rascal join forces for what is sure to be a dance-heavy show at the 9:30 Club. Brooklyn-based El-P's jams are varied in tempo and style but consistently strong, as he always manages to drop solid lyrics against unexpected, infectious beats. Dizzee Rascal hails from across the pond and has, better than any of his contemporaries, set London street slang to the American genre of street music. Truthfully, Rascal handles hip-hop with an ease rare amongst his counterparts stateside. This dynamic pair of headliners are joined by DJ Mr. Dibbs, the Mighty Quin and DJ Aaron LaCrate.

Thursday at 7:30 p.m. 9:30 club, 815 V St. NW. $20. 202-393-0930.

3. SON OF RAMBOW

[MOVIE] What happens when a sheltered British boy, brought up in a religious sect called the Brethren, stumbles upon a bootleg copy of the 1982 Rambo flick "First Blood?" In the case of Will Proudfoot (Bill Milner), the answer is pure, unadulterated obsession. He finds a kindred spirit in the school bully (with a Scorsese bent) and together they make their own version of the movie, where impish, spindly Will finds his niche in the role of fearless stuntman. Writer/director Garth Jennings ("The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy") channels the glee of a summer spent with a camcorder into a portrait of the unpredictable process of growing up.

Friday. .

4. AARON DOUGLAS: AFRICAN AMERICAN MODERNIST

[EXHIBIT] More than 80 rarely seen works make up the first nationally touring retrospective of one of the most influential visual artists of the Harlem Renaissance. Like the jazz of its age, Douglas's work was a cool and seamless blend of styles and influences. His paintings, prints, drawings and illustrations (all of which are represented in the exhibition) combine cubist rhythms, art deco style and traditional African American imagery.

Opens Friday. Through Aug. 3. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F streets NW. Free. 202-633-1000.