It's Burt's last major film role, and it provides quite a heart-rending wallop of closure to an audience member who recalls the swaggering, invulnerable film icon who always came out on top. The opening scene is the best illustration: the film goes from an image of the young, virile, Burt to a shot of the decrepit old man. Later scenes place the Old Burt into movie scenes of the Young Burt.
Eventually this kind of reflection speaks to all of us.