Stoney, I agree with you almost 100%. When I think of females I think we need to add Scarlet Johansson. She is very young and i think she's great.
I dont think Hanks is always the same. I dont see any similarities between his characters in Philadelphia (prolbably the most overrated of his performances), Forrest Gump, Cast Away (i think he did much better on this one than Crowe in Gladiator obv), That thing you do or some others. I think he has played a few similar characters, but that is another thing.
I totally agree with your remarks on Al Pacino. I think some of his characters have become so famous that he is maybe trying to repeat them over and over.
Xas, I also think Dicaprio is great. The thing is he has been working on all of the most recent Scorsese films (lucky bastard

) and, as some famous mexican says, Styudying, everyone passes

.
The directors make a huge difference in the acting. Tom Cruise has been great everytime he works with a top director (Oliver Stone, Kubrick and P.T. Anderson).
PZ, I didnt see Ali. Not completely. I think he was good but that good. I havent seen In pursuit of happiness neither.