I've watched Scott Pilgrim vs. The World more than pretty much any other film.
I've now quoted it so much as become part of my day-to-day vocabulary.
So yeah, it's something of a masterpiece in my eyes.
Watching it recently with commentary there's the following conversation
between director Edgar Wright and author Brian Lee O'Malley
Wright: "Is there an album that you think it should be played alongside Scott Pilgrim
Dark Side of the Moon-style?" O'Malley: "Maybe something by the Smashing Pumpkins"
Wright "Oh there you go well obviously you know the Infinite Sadness"
"Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness." O'Malley: "Yeah that's a pretty long."
"I guess it's probably about two hours, it would probably work"
Wright: "There you go!"
For those that don't know this refers to a theory that's known as the Dark Side of the Rainbow
It is rumoured that Pink Floyd had created that landmark 1973 album the Dark Side of the Moon
so it could be played alongside and complement the visuals that The Wizard of Oz.
The color refraction on the album cover supposedly symbolizes Dorothy's jump
to the Technicolor world of Oz as well as a reference that films and most famous song:
While members of the band have refuted the claims,
there are some striking moments of music and visuals syncing.
This includes The Great Gig in the Sky's screams matching up with the tornado sequence.
The scarecrow dance to Brain Damage
And the outro heartbeats when Dorothy listens to the Tin Man's chest.
But in this case it would be Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness
which at least thematically makes sense.
The third book in the comic series is called exactly that.
O' Malley is a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan
and Scott is shown wearing two separate Pumpkin shirts through the film.
Both deal in adolescent angst and the process of growing up.
While Wright and O'Malley are obviously discussing it in jest
it's not the most outlandish theory.
Due to it being a completely new way to enjoy the film and the album, I'm in.
So I find the sync point through some research, start the album eight seconds
before the starting of the film, lower the volume, add subtitles and get ready to experience
the magical synergy of Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness.
The breathless rush of Tonight Tonight playing as Sex Bob-omb start:
Here is No Why syncing with the party sequence:
Bullet With Butterfly Wings colliding with the faux enthusiasm of Scott and Knives' last date:
The break-up with Knives to Galapogos.
Here's the thing:
It doesn't quite fit.
It's slightly off, you can see the gaps
and when it doesn't work.
There is no intended connection.
The supposed synchronicity is based on a false correlation
Simply put it's a series of coincidences.
Edgar Wright never meant for these two things to go together
and Pink Floyd never meant for Dark Side of the Moon to be played alongside The Wizard of Oz
People want to believe these things are supposed to complement each other
and therefore connections and patterns are observed.
Two plus two equals five.
This is very common with films, fans creating their own headcanon
theorizing something that was never the filmmakers' intention
so for example like
Ferris Bueller does not exist, Paul McCartney is dead,
James Bond is a code name
and all of television is happening in Tommy Westphall's head.
All have believers, all can be easily disproven.
But that doesn't seem to matter:
You create your own truth.
In the case of Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness
these are separate entities with an acausal relationship
yet when played alongside each other implied, meaningful connections can be made.
This is Carl Jung's definition of "synchronicity".
These connections can be increased in frequency if the viewer is willing to believe that these connections exist
and disregard instances where it does not fit.
The tail end of Tonight Tonight deeply contrasts with Scott returning to his flat.
and there are many other clashing moments.
But if you want to believe your brain can overlook this.
This ignoring of non corresponding data is called "Confirmation Bias"
Speaking of Carl Jung, one of the characters in Scott Pilgrim is called Young Neil
named in reference to the musician Neil Young,
Teenage Fanclub have a song called Neil Jung
named after the previously mentioned psychiatrist.
In Wright's next movie, The World's End, there is a song by Teenage Fanclub.
Isn't that a bit too suspicious?
Not really.
This is just an example of finding something where there's nothing,
when it is clearly just coincidences.
But maybe I'm wrong.
Edgar Wright has with Baby Driver shown that he is a master of syncing movement
and story into pop music.
Look at the opening robbery scene with it's almost dance like rhythm.
Who is to say that Scott Pilgrim vs. the World wasn't a secret test run?
So go ahead and try it out.
Look for the connections and experience for yourself.
The magic of Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness.
Believe in what you want.
You guys. Are so. Amazing.