Bidder 70

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Bidder 70

Released May 17, 2013

1h 13m

Documentary

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80%

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10 Reviews

57%

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100+ Ratings

Economics student Tim DeChristopher makes a startling bid to save 22,000 acres of Utah wilderness at the 2008 BLM Oil and Gas Lease Auction.

Bilge Ebiri

Spirituality & Health

By keeping their focus on this remarkable, insightful figure, the Gages deliver a film that reflects the humanity of its subject.

Mar 24, 2020

Full Review

Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

Though viewers may already be aware of how DeChristopher's 2011 trial ended, the film maintains a gripping air of tension and mystery leading up to the verdict (he was sentenced to two years in federal prison for fraud but released after 21 months).

Rated: 3.5/5

Jun 27, 2013

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Kyle Smith

New York Post

As dully earnest, disorganized and self-righteous as an editorial in a student newspaper ...

Rated: 1/4

May 17, 2013

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Louis Proyect

rec.arts.movies.reviews

Gripping documentary about a young man who risked a stiff prison sentence for doing something to stop global warming, a crisis that could lead to the deaths of 100 million people.

May 18, 2013

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Eric Monder

Film Journal International

Bidder 70 is modest but revitalizing.

May 17, 2013

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Kam Williams

AALBC.com

A powerful, empathetic portrait of a selfless, planetary patriot willing to sacrifice his liberty for the sake of Mother Earth's long-term prospects.

Rated: 4/4

May 12, 2013

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Audience Member

Environmental activist Tim DeChristopher served 21 months in prison for protesting gas and oil leases on and near pristine Utah public land by bidding on the leases himself (p.s. he didn't have any $$$$). DeChristopher served 16 more months than did the then-billionaire, omni-media goddess, Martha Stewart, for chump change, embarrassingly nominal, yet profoundly greedy, insider trading and securities fraud -- and 21 months more than Jamie Dimon CEO and Chairman of Too Big Too Fail JP Morgan Chase, and Lloyd Blankenfein, CEO and Chairman of Too Big Too Prosecute Goldman Sachs, WILL EVER SERVE (if ever charges are brought against the golden gods of Wall Street by the U.S. Department of Justice *Denied* (USDOJD). A lesson in courage.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An interesting act of civil disobedience, but a boring documentary. You're better off just reading the story of Tim DeChristopher and not wasting an hour. NOTE: This was the last movie I watched in 2014, 101 total movies watched and rated on Flixster in 2014.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A look at a young climate activist who chose to fight the government's sale of treasured Utah wilderness for oil drilling. His choice to place phony bids on the land leases landed him in federal prison but also shed light on the entire situation he was battling.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A very impressive documentary, "Bidder 70" doc is well worth the watch, whatever your stance on environmentalism. Afterward, you may find a broader, deeper context that will rankle the independent thinker in all of us. ... and disturbingly so.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Beth Gage

Director

George Gage

Director

Beth Gage

Screenwriter

George Gage

Producer

Beth Gage

Producer

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Synopsis

Economics student Tim DeChristopher makes a startling bid to save 22,000 acres of Utah wilderness at the 2008 BLM Oil and Gas Lease Auction.

Director: Beth Gage, George Gage
Producer: George Gage, Beth Gage
Screenwriter: Beth Gage
Distributor: First Run
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 17, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 16, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.8K
Runtime: 1h 13m

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