American Splendor, nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay (first-time nominees Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman), is based on the autobiographical comic books of cult favorite Harvey Pekar, played magnificently by Paul Giamatti. A Cleveland file clerk, Pekar decides to turn his very mundane life into the stuff of underground comic book art.

Those who have seen the excellently dry mix of humor, cynicism and pathos at work in Ghost World, the 2000 adaptation of another well-regarded, underground comic book, will quickly be in tune with the narrative rhythms of this surprisingly diverting film. Though it’s a relatively small movie, produced by HBO, and focuses on a grouchy, curmudgeonly character that’s a borderline misanthrope, the film is vibrantly alive and ambitious in style.

This is due not only to the performances of Giamatti, who has the added challenge of playing the idiosyncratic Pekar in a film in which the writer periodically makes appearances as himself, and Hope Davis, who plays Pekar’s match, Joyce Brabner, but also to a wonderfully inventive juxtaposition of dramatic sequences, interviews with the real-life people being portrayed in the film, and animated sequences of all of the above.

It’s well worth the time and money of the rental, and the only question you may be left with is, Why didn’t this movie receive more than one nomination?

You also wouldn’t go wrong if you decided to bring home a copy of Whale Rider, a delightfully heartfelt film from New Zealand about a young girl named Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) who defies patriarchal prejudices to learn and embrace the traditions of her Maori tribe’s ancient culture.

Initially disregarded as a baby simply because she was a girl instead of a boy, over time Pai begins to win the affections of her stern, yet loving grandfather (Rawiri Paratene) but continues to meet resistance from him whenever she seeks to further explore the possibility she might be the tribe’s predestined leader.

At a time when the Maori are losing their traditions and strength to modern culture, her grandfather believes their people’s fate lies in uncovering the identity of the next tribal leader... but Pai is excluded from her grandfather’s classes in Maori culture because he also believes there’s no way their destiny could depend upon a girl.

All the roles in this appealing film are well played, but Keisha Castle-Hughes is especially outstanding and deserves the plaudits she’s receiving for being the youngest female ever to be nominated for the Best Actress trophy. In Whale Rider she exudes a naturalness that comes off not as polished, cool-in-front-of-the-camera confidence but as more earthy and real than many performances you’ll find from veteran actors.

If there’s any doubt about her ability, hang around for a climactic sequence in which Pai gathers up the courage to speak lovingly about her grandfather, even as his beliefs threaten to smother her. To say it’s a tear-jerking scene would be an understatement: it elicited the patented clear-the-throat, “something’s in my eye” response from this humble reviewer.

American Splendor is rated R for language. Whale Rider is rated PG-13 for brief language and a fleeting drug reference.