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The race leading to Oscar gold began Wednesday when "The Hours," director Stephen Daldry's poignant drama based on Michael Cunningham's novel, which was itself based on Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway," was named best picture of 2002 by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. The Paramount release, which stars Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore, opens Dec. 27.
The first organization to announce its picks for best of the year, the National Board of Review is made up of educators, writers, film historians and film students.
Last year, the group chose "Moulin Rouge" as best picture, and it went on to be nominated for numerous Academy Awards. Its best...