Top 10s

Chris Hegedus’s Top 10

Chris Hegedus’s Top 10

Filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker (Dont Look Back, Monterey Pop, The War Room) and Chris Hegedus (The War Room, Startup.com), creative partners and husband and wife, offer their favorites. Read Pennebaker’s top ten here.

8½ #1 Federico Fellini

Fellini is my favorite director, and this brilliant movie is one of my inspirations.

Juliet of the Spirits #2 Juliet of the SpiritsFederico Fellini

Haunting and magical. The way that Fellini dealt with Juliet’s dreams, subconscious, relationships, and the church—I had never seen anything like it.

Contempt #3 ContemptJean-Luc Godard

I adore Jean-Luc Godard’s early films. Stylish, contemporary, and innovative, this is one of his best—and Brigitte Bardot, well!

Fanny and Alexander — The Theatrical Version #4 Fanny and Alexander — The Theatrical VersionIngmar Bergman

I thought that this was one of Ingmar Bergman and cinematographer Sven Nykvist’s most beautiful and haunting films.

The Battle of Algiers #5 The Battle of Algiers Gillo Pontecorvo

The first time I saw this film, it felt so real it was frightening. I watched it again recently, and it is an amazing piece of filmmaking, still relevant and possibly even more frightening.

Sullivan’s Travels #6 Sullivan’s TravelsPreston Sturges

This film is a comic delight. Sturges is a master. Veronica Lake is unforgettable.

I Know Where I’m Going! #7 I Know Where I’m Going!Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger

I remember being thrilled by the way this film begins. Actually, the whole movie is charming. Michael Powell is one of the best.

Jules and Jim #8 Jules and JimFrançois Truffaut

My introduction to the French new wave. The way Truffaut dealt with relationships seemed so different. Jeanne Moreau is magical.

Monterey Pop #9 Monterey PopD. A. Pennebaker

Great documentaries happen when the filmmaker is lucky enough to be there at the rare moment in time when things are changing. Monterey Pop captures the music but also that innocent moment in the sixties.

Salesman #10 SalesmanAlbert Maysles, David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin

A classic direct-cinema documentary drama made with ordinary people, it demonstrated for me, early on, that even without celebrities documentaries can be as compelling as any fiction film.