Indie Spotlight: New Releases for Oct. 10

Welcome to the Indie Spotlight, our weekly roundup of the limited-release films opening outside the multiplexes all over this great land of ours. There are quite a few indie films debuting today, and while it's especially good news for movie buffs in New York City, the rest of us can make a note of the ones that look good and keep an eye out for when they come to our neck of the woods (wherever that neck may be).

Today we have, in alphabetical order: Ashes of Time Redux, Billy: The Early Years, Breakfast with Scot, Choose Connor, Fraude: Mexico 2006, Good Dick, Happy-Go-Lucky, Nights and Weekends, and Talento de Barrio. Here's the scoop on each of them, from widest opening to smallest.

Billy: The Early Years
What it is: A friendly, faithful biopic about the Rev. Billy Graham.
What they're saying: Nothing so far. If I had to guess, I'd reckon fans of the good reverend will find it pleasant, while those unfamiliar with or uninterested in him will find it boring. That's if I had to guess.
Where it's playing: About 300 locations throughout the southeastern quadrant of the United States, below the Mason-Dixon line and east of Amarillo.
More info: Here's the official site.

Talento de Barrio
What it is: Puerto Rican drama starring Daddy Yankee as a drug dealer who falls in love and becomes a reggaeton singer. I guess it's like a Puerto Rican Hustle & Flow.
What they're saying: The only two reviews available so far are very, very negative.
Where it's playing: About 20 screens in the greater New York City and Los Angeles areas.
More info: The official site lists the theaters it's playing in.


Happy-Go-Lucky
What it is: British filmmaker Mike Leigh, best known for his dreary dramas (like the one about freelance abortionist Vera Drake), does a 180 with this light comedy about an unfailing optimistic, upbeat woman.
What they're saying: Cinematical reviewed it at Telluride and found it adorable -- and so have 95% of the rest of the critics at Rotten Tomatoes. We have a winner!
Where it's playing: New York City (Lincoln Plaza, Landmark Sunshine), Los Angeles (The Landmark), San Francisco (Embarcadero Center); expanding to more cities starting next week.
More info: The cheerful website.

Ashes of Time Redux
What it is: Acclaimed Chinese director Wong Kar Wai revisits his hard-to-find 1994 film, about a heartbroken hitman, and reworks it to his liking.
What they're saying: An overwhelming majority of critics at Rotten Tomatoes -- 92% -- like it, saying it's a visually stunning cinematic treat.
Where it's playing: New York City (Lincoln Plaza Cinemas, Angelika Film Center), Los Angeles (Laemmle Sunset 5, Laemmle Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, Edwards University Town Center 6 in Irvine).
More info: OMG it has a Facebook page!!

Breakfast with Scot
What it is: A comedy about two gay men temporarily raising a precocious 11-year-old boy.
What they're saying: Cinematical's James Rocchi reviewed it at Toronto last year and declared it funny and heartwarming. The critics at Rotten Tomatoes are about evenly split, with some agreeing with The Rocch while others find the film cloying and sitcom-y.
Where it's playing: New York City (Quad Cinema), Los Angeles (Laemmle Sunset 5), Berkeley (Shattuck Cinemas), San Francisco (Lumiere Theatre), Palm Desert (Cinemas Palme D'Or).
More info: The official site has a schedule of upcoming playdates in other cities.

Nights and Weekends
What it is: A mumblecore drama about a man and woman struggling to keep their long-distance relationship together, starring mumblecore king and queen Joe Swanberg and Greta Gerwig.
What they're saying: This was one of Cinematical's favorite films at South By Southwest this year (here's Erik Davis' review), and eight out of 10 critics at Rotten Tomatoes like it, too, citing its strong, insightful performances.
Where it's playing: New York City (IFC Center).
More info: The official website.

Fraude: Mexico 2006
What it is: A documentary about Mexico's controversial 2006 presidential election. Good thing we never have problems with our elections up here in the good ol' U.S. of A.!
What they're saying: It doesn't seem to have been reviewed at all yet.
Where it's playing: Los Angeles (Laemmle Music Hall 3), Houston (Cinema Latino de Pasadena).
More info: Here's the official site, en español and not muy helpful anyway.

Good Dick
What it is: An edgy, quirky romantic comedy about a young woman who can't stand the touch of a man, with Jason Ritter as the man who tries to change that.
What they're saying: Cinematical's Scott Weinberg liked it at Sundance. (He and I both thought the title -- which is not double entendre; it really is what she's looking for -- would get changed, but apparently not.) At Rotten Tomatoes, it's split almost down the middle between love and hate.
Where it's playing: Los Angeles (Nuart Theatre).
More info: The official site -- which wants you to be 18 before you can enter -- has a list of future release dates in other cities.

Choose Connor
What it is: A drama about a 15-year-old boy who becomes a Senatorial candidate's youth spokesperson, only to be exploited and hounded by the media and the opponents.
What they're saying: Five of the eight reviews at Rotten Tomatoes so far are negative, and even the three positive ones are subdued.
Where it's playing: New York City (Cinema Village).
More info: The official site has a few dates for upcoming cities, too.