I recently went to the movies , where I was confronted on the screen by minor miracles: two well-crafted films that are smart, brave, and aimed at adults. And they have nothing to do with superheroes.

The films are The Holdovers and American Fiction. The Holdovers is about the relationship that develops between three people who are left stranded at an expensive private school for Christmas. The second film, American Fiction, didn’t play, but the trailer did . That was enough to leave the jaws of those seated around me on the floor.

With what looks like brutal satire, American Fiction tackles the phenomenon of white elites in the media, academia, and publishing world who satisfy their own egos by making black authors sound more “street” and “authentic” at the expense of more gifted black writers. It’s a savage takedown of the condescension liberalism holds toward black people.

The best part is neither film felt the need to insert the superficial action and predictable plot that too often accompanies the superhero genre.

[Mark assures me that the trailer for “American Fiction” is a real grabber; I’ve already seen the trailer for “The Holdovers” and plan to see that when I can. However, I would recommend that people watch Robert Townsend’s low-budget masterpiece “Hollywood Shuffle” too, which also dealt with the phenomenon of white producers enforcing ‘street authenticity’ on black performers. It’s a great film, arranged in a series of skits with Townsend’s acting ambitions a connecting narrative. — Ed]