Machine Gun Kelly provides himself as muse in Berlinale semi-biopic ‘Taurus’

By Alexander Kloss

(Reuters) – Colson Baker, the actor higher generally known as rapper-turned-rockstar Machine Gun Kelly, stated he hoped his semi-autobiographical movie concerning the ultimate days of Cole, a troubled rapper, would encourage others with turbulent lives.

In “Taurus”, director Tim Sutton teamed up with Baker for a movie that blurs actuality and fiction, casting Baker as Cole, in a examine of superstardom and its pitfalls. The similarities between Baker and Cole are actually no coincidence.

“We nearly had been shying away from it being autobiographical,” he informed a information convention on the Berlin Movie Pageant. “It felt like … it simply turned me.”

Like Baker in his earlier profession, Cole is profitable however struggles with substance abuse. Maddie Hasson performs Ilana, the protagonist’s private assistant, who tries to maintain him on observe whereas enduring his manic episodes.

However between skipped conferences, fixed drunkenness and cocaine habit, Cole’s life spirals uncontrolled. And the movie was the remedy he by no means had, Baker stated.

“I bought to have … on-screen remedy for issues that I by no means actually handled,” stated Baker, who beforehand labored with Sutton on the 2021 Western “The Final Son”.

Baker’s fiancee Megan Fox makes a short look within the movie, enjoying Cole’s ex-wife.

The movie’s manufacturing title was “Good Information”, however the brand new title was chosen to match Baker’s star signal.

“I’m extra hoping that individuals can watch it and I’m the muse for somebody to seek out their very own inspiration and discovering a will to stay,” he stated.

(Reporting by Alexander Kloss; Modifying by Thomas Escritt and David Goodman)