Did the actor playing the character become invisible and only the character portrayed show?

Have you seen the actor play other characters and was this role completely in a different range of character?

Did you become involved with actors performance on an emotional level?

These three things pretty much encompass a great performance, especially for a well known actor, which the first is harder to overcome.

This is why I rank Turturro so high on the scale, I'm surprised to notice it is him in a role. Lets take Brad Pitt, by my scale is a pretty poor actor in most films, but his performances in 12 Monkeys and Snatch very awesome on the same scale. Add it up any way you like because it is your opinion, and in this case your opinion is all that matters.

Xas, what happened with 3:10 to yuma? You didnt like it?

I find myself in the total opposite position than you: I generally notice the good acting first than most things. I remember when i first saw Apollo 13 (there was a movie forum right after the movie with lots of critics and film makers) and they some of they talked before me. Nobody mentioned how great Ed Harris was in that movie and that was what i liked the most from that movie. The second unit direction was awesome and the so was the editting, but I just could feel every emotion Harris was representing and i think that is great.