Billy Bob Thornton disappears and Karl Childers takes over every facet of his body and personality. With little to no makeup, Thornton transforms completely into another man. Its almost scary to watch. In my opinion the greatest acting performance of all time.

Robert DeNiro earned this Best Actor nomination and win by putting his body through hell to play the actual raging bull, Jake LaMotta.

Robert Blake bore an eerie resemblance to the killer Perry Smith in Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. But even without that advantage he had this guy down cold. Blake's own life bore the same hardships and heartaches of Richard Perry's. Clearly Blake understood this man better the killer's own mother.

Seriously, could any actor have pulled off R.P. McMurphy like the great Jack Nicholson? No, I think not. Jack IS R.P. McMurphy!

A Dustin Hoffman performance that inspired a Muppet Character. Ever wonder where they got the idea for Rizzo the Rat? That's Ratzo Rizzo from Midnight Cowboy. Hoffman plays a street person who guides newcomer Joe Buck to the NYC scene. Teaching him in the ins and outs of being homeless in the biggest city on earth. One of my favorite acting performances. Hard to see Hoffman as anyone else once you witness his performance.

Not a big fan of this movie, but Charlize Theron gives one of the greatest performances of all time, portraying real life serial killer, Aileen Wournos. With very little makeup they transform one of the most beautiful women on earth into the Blair Fucking Witch. Wow.

Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal the Cannibal Lector. Say no more.

Marlon Brando gives the greatest performance of his already illustrious career, playing Mafia don, Vito Corleone. Truly one of the greatest performances of all time. The fact that he was still a young man when he auditioned for this part astounds me.

Al Pacino takes up where Brando left off, making The Godfather Saga the best actors movie of all time. His performance as reluctant head of the Corleone family, Michael Corleone, should have garnered him Best Actor that year, but he was robbed once again.

Meryl Streep shows why she is the greatest female actor Hollywood ever produced. Her performance as tragic Sophie, A Holocaust survivor, who was forced to make an impossible decision, remains one of the most heart wrenching displays of acting I've ever seen.

Sidney Poitier gives the performance of his legendary career playing Detective Virgil Tibbs. A Chicago detective out of place in the most racist state of the Union at that time, Mississippi. It's 1963, and these white people do not want him there. But they damn sure do need him. Mr. Poitier gives an important performance as an independent and intellectually superior black man, when most white people at that time were uncomfortable with that idea. When he slapped the face of the old southern white racist, black America stood up and cheered. He paved the road for every black actor who came after him.

Without saying a word the Charlie Chaplin gives one of the greatest performances of his legendary career. Playing the Tramp once he again, he falls in love with a blind flower girl, and helps her find the means to restore her sight. Breaks my heart every time.

Denzel Washington set the screen on fire as runaway slave, Silas Trip. A proud man who wants nothing more to strike a blow for his freedom. When he shows the white man nothing more than silent tears for the whipping he's getting, Denzel shows us all what a man truly is. Powerful stuff.

Jimmy Stewart, fresh from the war in Europe, returns to America to give the greatest performance of his career. Playing George Bailey he reaches down and becomes this frustrated hero who doesn't realize just what he means to the people around him. If I had to choose my favorite all time scene in ANY movie it would be George Bailey in the bar, praying to God for a miracle and guidance. I'm weeping now just thinking about it.

Morgan Freeman steals the show as Red Redding, the con who can get you whatever you want in prison. Within reason. As the narrator as well, he tells the tale of Andy Dufresne, and their remarkable relationship that transcended race and time. If you really could have friends like this in prison, it wouldn't be such a bad place.

In my opinion Henry Fonda is the greatest actor of all time, and this is his greatest performance. Again, unrecognized by the geniuses at the Academy. Seriously, why do we still watch the Oscars at all? Anyway, as Juror #8, Fonda takes what looks like a slam dunk case and slowly changes the mind of each juror, until they give the young defendant the same sort of consideration as he does. Surrounded by other great actors, also giving outstanding performances, Fonda shows why he is the greatest actor of all time. A legendary performance.

Paul Newman is one of my favorite actors, and Cool Hand Luke is my favorite movie of his. Playing the cool but headstrong Luke Jackson, he gives a Christ like performance as a chain gang convict who gives the other prisoners there to root for and emulate. Another great robbery by the Academy of Motion Pictures voters. One of their worst mistakes ever.

Viola Davis gives a heart wrenching performance as a black maid in Mississippi, circa early 1960s. As Aibileen Clark she stands both proud and helpless in a world meant only for the white people she works for. Treated to all sorts of indignities she resists their hate and gives only love in return to the white children in her care. Showing she is in fact the strongest woman in the cruel world she inhabits. If that isn't resistance against hate and intolerance I don't know what is.

Gene Wilder IS Willy Wonka, making Tim Burton and Johnny Depp fools for trying to remake the character into someone else.

Tom Hanks greatest performance wasn't as Forrest Gump, but Josh Baskin in Big. Playing a thirteen year old boy in a thirty year old man's body, he straddles the line between the two age groups magnificently.

Earnest Borgnine gives a bravo performance as plain and ordinary, Marty Piletti. A Bronx butcher who just wants to find someone who'll love him despite the fact that he has the face of a fat bulldog. He finds love at last, only to face resistance from both family and friends, who want to keep him down and around. Truly, if you don't also fall in love with this sweet and lovely man, you have no heart and soul. One of the greatest and most satisfying performances of all time.

Hattie McDaniel is the only reason to watch this revisionist portrayal of the deep south in Civil War Georgia. Portrayed as a "happy" slave, Hattie nevertheless finds a way to give her character Mammy, both pride and dignity. She refuses to be beat down no matter the circumstances. Easily the strongest female character in this slave holding household. A lovely, lovely woman who truly deserved that Oscar. No one earned it more.

Good God, Betty Anne Davis gives the most bone chilling performance as batshit crazy Baby Jane Hudson. Maybe the most unaffected performance on this list.

Cicely Tyson gives a brave performance as Rebecca Morgan. A black sharecropper's wife in depression era Louisiana. With astounding pride and determination she keeps her family intact and on track, while her husband's in jail. A hallmark achievement for cinema.

Setsuko Hara gives a sublime and understated performance as the daughter in law of an aging couple, visiting their rather indifferent children in Tokyo. I cannot take my eyes off this wonderful actress whenever she's onscreen. She shows time and again, how less is more. A constant in Yasujiro Ozu movies. My favorite foreign film director. The man knew a good thing we he saw it. Most underrated actress of all time.

Jamie Foxx became the legendary singer, Ray Charles in this biopic from 2004. His performance was a once in a lifetime achievement for Jamie Foxx. Hard to top, but his career is far from over.

Anthony Perkins gives a bone-chilling performance as genre-defying Norman Bates.

Charlie Chaplin makes my list twice as the Tramp. This time prospecting for gold in the Yukon. He gives what is arguably the greatest comic performance of all time.

Jack Nicholson shows what crazy really is as hotel caretaker, Jack Torrance. Herrrre's Johnny!

Robert Mitchum as the predatory preacher on the prowl. This was the real boogeyman our parents told us about. Brrrr!

Henry Fonda as depression hero Tom Joad. Gives a performance that's one for the ages.

Clint Eastwood gives a performance that's the perfect capstone for his career as a Hollywood cowboy. Willam Munney was bad as hell, too.

John Hurt portrays the tragic John Merrik, better known as The Elephant Man. His dense and copious makeup doesn't hide the magnificent performance that broke the hearts of everyone who saw it.

When discussing John Wayne's greatest performances, True Grit is usually the one most people point to as his best. Not me. His portrayal of hard-bitten Ethan Edwards is in my opinion his most complete and honest performance as an actor.

This time I'm listing a duo here, in the dual assassins, Jules and Vince. Played perfectly in synch by Samual L. Jackson and John Travolta. Tarantino saved John Travolta's languishing career, only to see Travolta dash it on the rocks again with roles in some of the worst movies ever made. Samual L. Jackson, on the other hand, became one of the best actors in Hollywood, milking that Tarantino cow for as long as he could.

Robin Williams dials it way the hell down and shows us how fucking good he could be in a serious role. Make no mistake, he is the linchpin in this movie. Helping Matt Damon become a household name along the way.

Peter Lorre defines the role as creepy killer on the prowl.

Gotta give props to Malcolm McDowell's performance as gang leader and punk extraordinaire in A Clockwork Orange. I hate this movie, but he certainly does nail it.

Another great Kubrick-inspired acting performance. This time by Vincent D'Onofrio as slack-jawed Leonard Lawrence. Bullied into becoming what his drill sergeant wanted all along: a soulless, killing machine.

Joe Pesci as demented Tommy DeVito. "I'm funny how? I'm here to amuse you? How the fuck am I funny?" In a cast full of outstanding performances, Pesci's stands out amongst them.