David Fincher's The Social Network is finally out on DVD/Blu-Ray this week, and it offers a pretty spectacular, in-depth look at the creation of the film (go here for all our past coverage of the film). One of the things that's always interested me about the movie is the opening credits sequence, which has gone through several changes from conception to execution. Originally, it was supposed to be done in one long, continuous shot, but that idea was shelved.
Additionally, Aaron Sorkin has stated in interviews that he wanted to use Paul Young's cover of "Love for the Common People" over the opening credits. He later commented, "David [Fincher] didn't just do something different; he did something 180 degrees opposite…The way that's shot, the way that's scored, that tells the audience, 'This isn't your father's college movie.'" Indeed, Trent Reznor's haunting score at the beginning is what sets the tone perfectly for the dark nature of the film. But today, we have a glimpse into what would have happened if this had been Aaron Sorkin's The Social Network.
Yesterday on Twitter, I put out the call for anyone to produce an alternate version of The Social Network opening credits that would use Sorkin's desired song. /Filmer Wesley Burleson (who writes over at The Film Fan) rose to the challenge, and his video is embedded below. Suffice it to say, I think it would have been a completely different movie had Sorkin gotten his way:
For comparison, here's Trent Reznor's track, which plays over the final verseion.
What do you guys think? Do you prefer Sorkin's version or Fincher's choice?
[Update: Several people in the comments are pointing out that, had this song been used, the sequence would have been cut/shot differently. I agree that this is the case, but the above is obviously just a mental exercise. Also, for reference, here's the excerpt from Sorkin's original Social Network script that describes this sequence/music.]
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