DREAMGIRLS UP FOR EIGHT, BABEL UP FOR SEVEN OSCARS

Dreamgirls and Babel were one and two respectively for Academy Award nominations, which were announced early Tuesday (January 23).

Dreamgirls notched eight Academy Award nominations and Babel was a close second with seven it was revealed at the Tuesday morning, January 23, announcement. While Dreamgirls captured eight noms, it was snubbed for the Best Picture nomination. Finalists for that award went to Babel, The Departed, Letters From Iwo Jima, Little Miss Sunshine, and The Queen.

Babel stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, but it also features Gael Garcia Bernal as Santiago, and he talked about what message people should take away from the film.

“Well that silence is the biggest enemy and communication is what comes out of silence. The more important one thing is the more kept down it is. You can see this in a family structure, on one person in particular or on a political level — on a worldwide political level. It’s getting to the point where we don’t know what’s going on, and to silence ourselves is the biggest mistake we can do. It’s better to come out and say it, and to ask for answers.”

Dreamgirls star Jamie Foxx talked about working on the movie and its universal appeal.

“You have to make a drama cross over, and I think that’s what’s great about this. It didn’t feel like you were playing. It felt like a real drama with singing, dancin….I’ve had a great time singing, dancing, acting. Like I said, you wish that all the movies and all the experiences can be like this. This is the type of process that I like and to be able to have fun with your heroes, the people that you admire, that’s what it’s supposed to be.”

The Academy Awards take place February 25 at 5 pacific and 8 eastern on ABC. Jamie Foxx’s co-stars Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy were both nominated for best supporting actress and best supporting actor respectively.