Feisty, frail or fiendish: why do film-makers still insist on shoving older characters into stereotypes?

There's been a noticeable shift in the film industry with more older actors taking on leading roles, yet many of these characters still fall into familiar stereotypes like being feisty, frail, or fiendish. This raises questions about the depth and variety of roles available for senior citizens in cinema. While it's encouraging to see older characters represented more frequently, the reliance on these three archetypes suggests that filmmakers may still have a long way to go in portraying the complexity of aging. Understanding this trend is crucial as it reflects broader societal attitudes towards aging and the narratives we choose to tell.