75 Great Performances

I enjoy watching films in general, but I particularly love movies that are character-driven and where the actors are given the opportunity to show their range of acting. Even if the movie isn't particularly good as a whole, the Hepburns and Streeps and Blanchetts and De Niros often give astounding performances that can make the film seem much better than it actually is. As a tribute to these great actors and their unforgettable performances, I've made my list of 75 great film performances.

Some notes:
1) This is my personal list, so while I would greatly appreciate comments on my choices, I don't want to be attacked for what appears on this list. That would be a sign of sheer immaturity on your part if you do it.
2) Of the 75, I'll list #s 75-51 now, then give #s 50-1 individually (or by groups of 5) with my notes.
3) Some of the greats (e.g., Katharine Hepburn) will be conspicuously missing. In Hepburn's case, I've watched only a few of her films, and none of those are her definitive performances. If I happen to watch one before finishing my whole list, I'll find a way to give her the honor she undoubtedly deserves.
4) By "Great," I don't necessarily mean that these are in the order of quality (i.e., depth, substance) of acting. Some high-ranking performances have such rankings because they are iconic or simply unforgettable.

Anyway, here are #s 75-51:

75. Dustin Hoffman as Capt. James S. Hook in Hook (1991)
74. Glenn Close as Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction (1987)
73. Audrey Tautou as Amélie in Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
72. Toshirô Mifune as Kikuchiyo in Shichinin no Samurai (1954)
71. Mike Myers as Austin Powers/Dr. Evil in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
70. Sissy Spacek as Carrie White in Carrie (1976)
69. Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance in The Shining (1980)
68. Meg Ryan as Sally Albright in When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
67. Julia Roberts as Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman (1990)
66. Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in Aliens (1986)
65. Al Pacino as Lt. Col. Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman (1992)
64. Robert Downey Jr. as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin (1992)
63. Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz in Clueless (1995)
62. Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Spider-Man 2 (2004)
61. Jack Nicholson as Col. Nathan Jessup in A Few Good Men (1992)
60. Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator (2004)
59. Nicole Kidman as Satine in Moulin Rouge! (2001)
58. Johnny Depp as Capt. Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
57. Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos in Monster (2003)
56. Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump (1994)
55. Kevin Spacey as Roger 'Verbal' Kint in The Usual Suspects (1995)
54. Haley Joel Osment as Cole Sear in The Sixth Sense (1999)
53. Natalie Portman as Mathilda in Leon (1994)
52. Helen Mirren as Mrs. Wilson in Gosford Park (2001)
51. Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)