Critics’ Choice nominees selected

“The Departed,” “Babel,” “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Dreamgirls” dominated the Broadcast Film Critics Assn.’s nominees for the 12th annual Critics’ Choice Awards on Tuesday with seven nods each.

Also competing for best picture are “Blood Diamond,” “Letters From Iwo Jima,” “Little Children,” “Notes on a Scandal,” “The Queen” and “United 93.” “Letters,” which is in Japanese with English subtitles, is also nominated for best foreign film -- a first in the awards’ history.

In another precedent, a nominee, Leonardo DiCaprio, will be competing against himself in the best actor category: He scored nominations for “The Departed” and “Blood Diamond.”

“The Departed,” Martin Scorsese’s gangster film, also received nominations for best film, best director, supporting actor (Jack Nicholson), best acting ensemble, best writer (William Monahan) and best composer (Howard Shore).

“Babel” also garnered a best picture nomination, along with two nods for best supporting actress (Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi), best acting ensemble, best writer (Guillermo Arriaga), best soundtrack and best composer (Gustavo Santaolalla).

Besides a best picture nomination, the comedy “Little Miss Sunshine” received nominations for best supporting actor (Alan Arkin), best acting ensemble, best writer (Michael Arndt), best young actress (Abigail Breslin), best young actor (Paul Dano) and best movie comedy.

The lavish musical “Dreamgirls” picked up nominations for best picture, best director (Bill Condon), best supporting actor (Eddie Murphy), best supporting actress (Jennifer Hudson), best acting ensemble, best soundtrack and best song (“Listen”).

Joining DiCaprio for best actor are Ryan Gosling for “Half Nelson,” Peter O’Toole for “Venus,” Will Smith for “The Pursuit of Happyness” and Forest Whitaker for “The Last King of Scotland.”

Competing for best actress are Penelope Cruz for “Volver,” Judi Dench for “Notes on a Scandal,” Helen Mirren for “The Queen,” Meryl Streep for “The Devil Wears Prada” and Kate Winslet for “Little Children.”

Vying for best supporting actor with Arkin, Murphy and Nicholson are Ben Affleck for “Hollywoodland,” Adam Beach for “Flags of Our Fathers” and Djimon Hounsou for “Blood Diamond.”

Besides Barraza, Hudson and Kikuchi, best supporting actress nominees are Cate Blanchett for “Notes on a Scandal,” Catherine O’Hara for “For Your Consideration” and Emma Thompson for “Stranger Than Fiction.”

Rounding out the best director nominees are Stephen Frears for “The Queen,” Paul Greengrass for “United 93” and Clint Eastwood for “Letters From Iwo Jima.” Even though it’s early in the award season, “Letters” is a standout: The World War II film has been named best movie of the year by the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. and the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, and has also been named one of the 10 best films of 2006 by the American Film Institute.

The 200 members of the BFCA represent TV, radio and online critics. The winners will be announced at a Jan. 12 gala at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. E! Entertainment Television will air the gala Jan. 20.

For a complete list of nominees, log on to TheEnvelope.com.

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susan.king@latimes.com