# Who’s afraid of growing old?

> With the release at cinemas this week of Ian McKellen’s mystery drama Mr Holmes and Ryan Reynold’s sci-fi chase Self/less , there was only one thing The Big Picture duo could do. They dedicated their latest podcast entirely to the various themes of getting old.

24 July 2015 · Reviews / Culture

Canonical: https://insights1.uca.org.au/articles/who-s-afraid-of-growing-old/

With the release at cinemas this week of Ian McKellen’s mystery drama *Mr Holmes* and Ryan Reynold’s sci-fi chase *Self/less*, there was only one thing The Big Picture duo could do. They dedicated their latest podcast entirely to the various themes of getting old. [Click here to check out the full podcast, as hosts Mark and Ben (regular contributors to *Insights*) dare to dive into ageing, death, regret, and *The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel*.](https://hope1032.com.au/stories/culture/movie-reviews/2015/the-big-picture-mr-holmes-and-the-grey-edition/) They even chat with an older Australian, about why she loves the *Marigold* — and what other movies make her sit up and take notice.

As Mark discusses what it’s like to see super-sleuth Sherlock get old in *Mr Holmes*, he asks whether the twilight of our lives is the best time to start analysing your own life. Ben wonders if *Self/less* presents death in such a negative light that it suggests nothing good can come of it. But is there a positive side to death, when it comes to the way we live now and into eternity? And as so many movies present growing old in so many different ways, Mark does us all a favour. He lists the Top 5 Worst Movies About Growing Old — so we know whose “advice” to ignore. You’re welcome.

[Embedded media](https://player.vimeo.com/video/133873765)

**[Now Showing: Self/less](https://vimeo.com/133873765) from [The Big Picture](https://vimeo.com/user37994556) on [Vimeo](https://vimeo.com).**

[Embedded media](https://player.vimeo.com/video/133873793)

**[Top 5: Worst Films About Getting Older](https://vimeo.com/133873793) from [The Big Picture](https://vimeo.com/user37994556) on [Vimeo](https://vimeo.com).**