THE epic musical “Moulin Rouge,” with Nicole Kidman, has won the Oscar season’s equivalent of the New Hampshire primary, being named Best Film yesterday by the National Board of Review.

These 70-year-old awards by a group of amateur critics aren’t always a reliable predictor of the Oscars – last year’s top pick, “Quills” wasn’t even nominated as Best Picture – but they get a lot of attention because they come at the very top of the awards season.

The board cited nine other English-language films for excellence: “In the Bedroom,” “Memento,” “The Man Who Wasn’t There,” “A.I.: Artificial Intelligence,” “The Pledge,” “Mulholland Drive” and the soon-to-open “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Monster’s Ball” and “Black Hawk Down.”

Billy Bob Thornton was named Best Actor for three films: “Monster’s Ball,” “The Man Who Wasn’t There” and “Bandits.”

Halle Berry copped Best Actress honors for “Monster’s Ball.”

Best Supporting Actor honors went to Jim Broadbent for “Moulin Rouge” and the upcoming “Iris.”

Cate Blanchett was named best supporting Actress for three roles: “The Man Who Cried” and the forthcoming “Lord of the Rings” and “The Shipping News.”

The director award went to newcomer Todd Field for “In the Bedroom,” with Peter Jackson being cited for special achievement for “Lord of the Rings.”

“Shrek” was named best animated feature.

Mexico’s “Amores Perros” was cited as best foreign-language film. “The Endurance” was named best documentary.