Old directors never die...?

...they just make cheesy, low-budget movies.

What is it about great artists when they get old? Do they just go senile at a certain point, or do they just stop caring? I can think of 3 great directors of the 70's whose latest works where unfit for the discount straight-to-video rack.

I just saw the latest film from Francis Ford Coppola called Twixt, that I don't recall ever made it to the theater. It was super low-budget, and not too well written or acted. It wasn't totally bad, but could have been better. Anyway, I couldn't help thinking , "This is the same guy that directed Godfather 1 and 2, and Apocalypse Now?"

Same thing with William Freidkin of The Exorcist and French Connection fame. The last fil of his I saw was a low-budget video called "Bug" and featured 2 actors in a closet. I happened to like the movie generally, but it still seemed beneath someone of his stature.

Last is Richard Donner of The Omen, Superman, and Lethal Weapon fame. The last show of his I saw was an abysmal time travel movie with no budget and unknown actors. I felt embarrassed for him while watching it.

Do old folks really loose their mojo that much, or are they just victims of studio prejudice for younger talent? I guess now its just a matter of time till we see Scorcese and Spielberg drop their first really big turd.