10 Movies One Mistake Away From Being Masterpieces

1. Red Dragon

The Almost Great Movie: What€™'s this? Brett Ratner makes a film that could have been a masterpiece. No it€™'s not a parallel, opposite universe, it€™'s Red Dragon. An adaptation of Robert Harris'€™ first Hannibal novel, it covered very similar ground to Michael Mann€™'s Manhunter, but used society's progression to its advantage; the psychology of the titular psychopath is much better explored, giving us a more well rounded plot.

The Big Mistake: Putting more of the focus on Hannibal.

But for every advantage the film has over Manhunter, there€™'s a detraction. Manhunter used Brian Cox for Hannibal Lektor, a minor role in this exploration of mental illness, but when The Silence Of The Lambs switched him for Anthony Hopkins (and the k for a c), it became clear Hannibal was what people wanted.

In response to this, the bad doctor'€™s role in Red Dragon is beefed up heavily from the book, leading to many superfluous scenes that serve only as scenery chewing excursions from the plot at hand. Hannibal works best as a support to a greater story (hence why Hannibal and Hannibal Rising failed) and the over reliance on him in Red Dragon detracts from the film€'™s better moments.

Any more almost masterpieces you'd like to share? Or do you think these mistakes aren't enough to ruin the movies? Have your say in the comment section below.