In case anyone out there hasn’t noticed (and how could anyone miss it?), this month marks the 20th anniversary of the Charlotte edition of Creative Loafing. Since its inception, I’ve screened well over 3,000 movies during that period. Winnowing that substantial number down to my 20 favorite films from the past 20 years was a daunting task (a 50 Best would have been easier), but nevertheless, here’s what I managed, cheating a bit at the end to slip in three extra titles.

The Untouchables (1987; Brian De Palma)

Full Metal Jacket (1987; Stanley Kubrick)

Broadcast News (1987; James Brooks)

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988; Martin Scorsese)

The Accidental Tourist (1988; Lawrence Kasdan)

Do the Right Thing (1989; Spike Lee)

GoodFellas (1990; Martin Scorsese)

The Silence of the Lambs (1991; Jonathan Demme)

The Player (1992; Robert Altman)

Unforgiven (1992; Clint Eastwood)

The Piano (1993; Jane Campion)

Quiz Show (1994; Robert Redford)

Pulp Fiction (1994; Quentin Tarantino)

Fargo (1996; Joel Coen)

The English Patient (1996; Anthony Minghella)

L.A. Confidential (1997; Curtis Hanson)

Boogie Nights (1997; Paul Thomas Anderson)

Saving Private Ryan (1998; Steven Spielberg)

Far From Heaven (2002; Todd Haynes)

Lost In Translation (2003; Sofia Coppola)

Best Foreign-Language Film: Raise the Red Lantern (1992; Zhang Yimou)

Best Documentary: Hoop Dreams (1994; Steve James)

Best Animated Film: Beauty and the Beast (1991; Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise)