Kåre or Kodi - who was the better Oskar?

[danielma]

I figured its time to ask a question that is now being debated over at IMDB...who was the better/closer to the book Oskar...Kåre or Kodi

Personally, I still think Kåre wins for me. I felt Kåre was a little closer to the Oskar I read in the book...When I read Oskar, I read him as being the type of kid who is very angry and frustrated at his life yet never quite knowing how to channel that anger. He wasn't the type of kid to sit in the corner and cry about his issues rather be frustrated with his issues. But yet he still had moments of joy, when he hits back he finally gets some self respect about himself. I took Oskar in the book as being very much frustrated and angry just never knowing how to channel that anger...and that's what I felt Kåre bought out in his performance

As much as I liked Kodi (and think he is the true show stealer in LMI). I never felt that the kid was brimming with anger though. He always just looked like he was on the verge of tears for most of the scenes. I never once quite bought that he had anger building inside him. I liked Kodi, but I never quite bought him as Oskar...granted I'm glad he did something different with it, but still I never really thought he was the Oskar I read in the book. I know I've said this before, but I never felt Owen left oppression...the pivotal scene of Oskar hitting back in the book and film is supposed to be the moment where he gains SOME self respect. As seen by the fact that he walks around school in a new light, not hiding in fear. Yet with Owen, after he hits back, it still feels like he was living in oppression as he still hides around corners at the meer sight of his bullies. It never quite felt to me that he gained any self respect and was constantly living in fear...to me that wasn't the Oskar I read in the book.

So I still give it up to Kåre...seems like I'm in the minority though, people over at IMDB seem to think Kåre is wooden and Kodi was closer to the character...Am I wrong? Because I'm sure I read Oskar as brimming with anger, not the kid that was on the verge of tears in nearly every scene.

[TΛPETRVE]

There was no "better Oskar". Kodi was Owen and I refuse to even compare him to Oskar.

[Harls]

There was no "better Oskar". Kodi was Owen and I refuse to even compare him to Oskar.

QFT

[danielma]

There was no "better Oskar". Kodi was Owen and I refuse to even compare him to Oskar.

Point taken...I wouldn't have asked but I'm kind of getting sick of being told "Your Wrong Kare was wooden compared to Kodi...blah blah blah" over at the sess pool that is IMDB.

[TΛPETRVE]

Actually, I dare say if anyone was "wooden", it was the kids in LMI. Kodi did a great job, but neither him nor Chloe seemed able to show believable transitions between different facial expressions.

[theguy1991]

Kodi I felt showed more emotion than Kare.I can't really pick a favourite though. I liked them both

[TΛPETRVE]

At times, Kodi was quite on the brink of overacting. But fortunately the scenes allowed for some scope. And, admittedly, anything less would have been too subtle for a standard audience.

[danielma]

At times, Kodi was quite on the brink of overacting. But fortunately the scenes allowed for some scope. And, admittedly, anything less would have been too subtle for a standard audience.

I think that was my problem with Kodi...he got the sadness down...its really hard not to feel for the kid in LMI, he got the sadness nailed down perfectly...but I never felt that he was angry, confused, or hurt by anything that was happening. I always felt the kid was on the verge of tears, I never once looked at him and thought "Wow this kid is harbouring anger"...that's the thought I got from not only reading Oskar in the book but also watching Kare in the original

None of this is a slight against Kodi...I liked Kodi in LMI...but I personally felt the only emotion he got nailed down was sadness. Kid's a good crier (he even proved that in The Road), but I just never felt that sense of bottled up anger and frustration that I got from Kare.

[Gavin]

I got the sense he was more scared than angry. Like anger was replaced by fear in this particular version.

[gymmy64]

True...and seriously, he had every reason to be afraid of Abby. At one point I thought, Why aren't you running?!