Oscar nominations both embrace and snub 'Dreamgirls'

Bill Condon's musical "Dreamgirls" received eight Oscar nominations Tuesday morning, but the film was a surprising Best Picture snub, losing its slot to Clint Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima."

Close behind "Dreamgirls," which padded its nomination total with three best song nominations, was the ensemble "Babel." The Golden Globe winner for best dramatic feature earned seven nominations, including best picture, though its biggest star, Brad Pitt, was also snubbed.

Joining "Babel" and "Letters from Iwo Jima" in the best picture race are "The Departed," "The Queen" and the quirky comedy "Little Miss Sunshine."

The 79th Academy Awards will be presented Feb. 25 at the Kodak Theater. The show, telecast live on ABC, will be hosted by Emmy winner Ellen DeGeneres.

Here's a partial list of nominees:

BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR

—"Babel"

—"Letters from Iwo Jima"

—"The Queen"

—"The Departed"

—"Little Miss Sunshine"

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING

—Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, "Babel"

—Martin Scorsese, "The Departed"

—Stephen Frears, "The Queen"

—Paul Greengrass, "United 93"

—Clint Eastwood, "Letters from Iwo Jima"

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

—Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Departed"

—Peter O'Toole, "Venus"

—Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland"

—Will Smith, "The Pursuit of Happyness"

—Ryan Gosling, "Half Nelson"

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

—Helen Mirren, "The Queen"

—Meryl Streep, "The Devil Wears Prada"

—Judi Dench, "Notes on a Scandal"

—Kate Winslet, "Little Children"

—Penelope Cruz, "Volver"

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE