…at least according to Bobby Roberts for Cracked.com:

http://www.cracked.com/article_18455_5-movies-that-were-one-flaw-away-from-being-classics.html

Boy, do I agree with #4 on the list, that True Romance and Natural Born Killers might have been absolute classics had Quentin Tarantino, the screenwriter of both, also been the one to direct them.  At the time, of course, Mr. Tarantino wasn’t yet well enough known as a “director”, and thus Tony Scott and Oliver Stone, respectively, were behind the cameras for each instead of Tarantino himself.  While both films have their fans, I suspect that had Mr. Tarantino been given the opportunity to direct either at the early stages of his career, his reputation today might be even greater than it is.

Thinking about the great “what ifs?” with regard to films invariably leads me to my greatest one: The for the most part forgotten 1978 film The Driver.  Written and directed by Walter Hill, the movie’s lead role was originally intended for actor Steve McQueen.  However, he ultimately didn’t take the job and the role went to…Ryan O’Neal.

With all due respect to Mr. O’Neal…I would have killed to see McQueen in the role…especially going up against Bruce Dern’s demented police detective!

Even so, The Driver is still a great work.  Its story and central character were obviously inspired by author Donald E. Westlake’s Parker books and could easily fit into that universe/series.

But, again…I can’t help but wonder what would have happened had Steve McQueen played that title role.  If he had, I’m certain The Driver would be considered a classic film instead of being for the most part -and sadly- forgotten.