As an early 90’s millennial, I’ve never noticed a “gen z stare” as described in news articles like a “blank face that shows lack of social skill or ability to think”. The only times I’ve witnessed it happen and seen the older person accuse them of “gen z stare” is when the older person says something off hand or dumb but isn’t self aware enough to realize they’re being weird. Hell, I’ve given people a blank face countless times because I was taught it was better to say nothing at all sometimes. Especially when it came to talking to older people at work.
I remember when I was 16, some middle aged guy at work accused me of having no personality. In reality, I kept all conversations short as possible with him (like almost everyone in the store) because they were casually racist and misogynistic.
Can you explain a little more what you mean? Maybe an example?
Timothy Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune, first come to mind. I remember him mentioning them. They look unmistakenly like 21st century cosplaying American kids. He likes Chalamet, and really liked him in Marty Supreme, where they uglied him up, and made him look like a real person. Zendaya is another issue. She’s just a current It Girl, without even much to back it up.
He complains that modern movies are too sanitized, especially when it comes to actors. An entire cast will be impossibly beautiful people. Even villains have to be handsome/beautiful. There are a few active actors with “unconventional” looks, but most are older, like Buscemi. But it doesn’t seem like anyone is coming up who are known for a distinctive, but not attractive visual image, and Hollywood doesn’t seem even vaguely interested.