Once Upon a Time in America
Once Upon a Time in America was Sergio Leone's last project before he died. In 1968, David "Noodles Aaronson (Robert De Niro) reflects on his past as a gangster in the '20s and '30s, climbing the ranks from the Jewish slums of the Lower East Side. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and received a standing ovation that lasted fifteen minutes.
The Apartment
Though The Apartment is technically labeled a romantic comedy, it certainly leans into the element of drama. The film follows insurance worker C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon), who allows his married senior advisors to use his apartment as a space to congregate with their mistresses. Lemmon manages to transform the role of a lonely, unassertive clerk into something much more poignant.