Desert Blue

REVIEW
A fine indie film about a handful of characters living in Baxter, California, Desert Blue deals with a quarantine imposed on the small roadside town. When a trucker spills a feared contaminant and dies, the entire town is contained. Blue (Sexton) is the son of the town's founder, and he falls in love with Skye (Hudson), a TV actress stranded in the town during an ill-timed visit. Meanwhile, Ely (Ricci), who likes to blow things up, and her boyfriend Peter (Affleck), have run-ins with the FBI. While the drama -- in which hopes and dreams of the residents are explored -- is nothing special, the natural performances by the young cast make this minor film worthwhile. As tempers flare, secrets are revealed, and love blossoms in the desert, writer-director Freeman (Hurricane Streets) makes things compelling even when they get contrived.