Though it won more critical praise than any film in 1997, L.A. Confidential, director Curtis Hanson's smart adaptation of James Ellroy's gritty crime novel, was ultimately iced at the Oscars by Titanic, that overwrought cross between Love Story and The Poseidon Adventure. Scored by Jerry Goldsmith in a style reminiscent of his great work on Chinatown, L.A. Confidential includes just two cuts by the composer on its soundtrack. The film's--and soundtrack's--canny use of period jazz and pop standards is hard to fault, though; Johnny Mercer's lively "Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive" is particularly sublime, and also featured are songs by Dean Martin, Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Betty Hutton, Kay Starr, and others. --Jerry McCulley
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