Colson Baker 鈥� popularly known as his rockstar persona Machine Gun Kelly and for his high-profile relationship with Megan Fox 鈥� stars as 鈥淭aurus鈥� in a new film that he says draws inspiration from his own life.
In the movie being released in cinemas and on demand Friday, Baker plays Cole Taurus, a troubled rocker spending his days and nights searching endlessly for the inspiration to record one final song. His sister-like assistant (Maddie Hasson) wants to save him, his collaborators (Scoot McNairy, Lil Meech and Lil TJay) want him in the studio, while his dealer (Ruby Rose) and his ex-girlfriend 鈥� played by 鈥� push him deeper into the void.
Baker told The Associated Press that the titular character represents 鈥渢he person on the inside鈥� who only comes out in his own private life. The Machine Gun Kelly persona is an 鈥渆xtroverted shell,鈥� Baker said, while 鈥淭aurus鈥� puts 鈥減ictures to the words鈥� to show the real him.
The movie, written and directed by Tim Sutton in collaboration with Baker, had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in February.
As an exploration of the dark side of fame, encompassing addiction, the artistic process and the pitfalls of music industry, 鈥淭aurus鈥� rests almost entirely on Baker鈥檚 shoulders and on what he was willing to give to the performance.
Sutton said he knew Baker was 鈥渢he real deal鈥� upon meeting him, and fans of the musician are going to 鈥渇reak out鈥� when viewing the movie.
鈥淭hey cannot expect what they鈥檙e going to see, what his performance is, how deep he goes," Sutton said. 鈥淭he kind of rhythm and structure of the movie, too, is probably not typical of a movie.鈥�
Baker previously worked with Sutton on his Western 鈥淭he Last Son,鈥� in which he played a bank robber. His past acting credits and 鈥淕ood Mourning,鈥� another collaboration with fiancee Megan Fox.
Despite the confidence and bravado of Machine Gun Kelly, Baker said that he doesn鈥檛 like to hear or watch himself on screen 鈥� but this performance was different.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if it was the hair, like the long hair or whatever, but I was able to watch it not cringing at my own image,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 like that guy on the inside."
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For more on new and upcoming film releases, visit https://apnews.com/hub/movies
Sian Watson, The Associated Press
