The surprisingly witty script was worked on by a squadron of writers, including Robert Towne.

NEWYORKER: Armageddon

The screenwriter, Robert Towne, seems to be trying to underplay the rah-rah elements of the material to give competition some point other than pure ego gratification.

NEWYORKER: Days of Thunder

The director, Sydney Pollack, and his usual phalanx of screenwriters (the credited ones are Robert Towne, David Rayfiel, and David Rabe) try to improve on their source and partially succeed.

NEWYORKER: The Firm

The screenwriter is Robert Towne, who wrote half of the movies that made Jack Nicholson a star, and the leading lady is Thandie Newton, whose face could make a thousand ships do pretty much anything she wants.

NEWYORKER: Mission Impossible 2 (M: I-2)

Everyone involved in this picture seems overqualified, from the writers (Robert Towne, with Beatty) to the cinematographer (Conrad Hall) to the production designer (the late Ferdinando Scarfiotti) to the large, pointlessly high-powered supporting cast (headed by Katharine Hepburn).

NEWYORKER: Love Affair