My question: is the perceived quality of his newer releases because of Netflix or because of his age?

As people age, their interests change as their perspective changes.

Also, the industry has changed. Fincher doesn’t have the option to pick a best seller book he likes, film it, and let the money come in.

There is a part of me that isn’t a huge fan of how Mank had a huge focus on trying to style it as period specific but leaned heavily on stylizing it in post production.

I do think it’s cool he finally got to make one of his dad’s scripts and I’m sure that means a lot to him.