Keith Richards is a genius when it comes to living life to the fullest. And I want to go on record that I am most definitely not using the word “genius” lightly. Richards has embraced the driving curiosity, the fearlessness in the challenge of not simply refusing to grow up, but the joy of truly “evolving” into the man he is. He “is” in the most complete and complex way that the verb exists. More importantly, especially when it comes to defining his “genius,” Richards is endearingly human, lovably so, in fact.

He also happens to be a fantastic, iconic guitarist, a member of one of the greatest rock and roll bands to ever do the thing, and by his own account in Morgan Neville’s new documentary Keith Richards: Under the Influence, he might be an even better bassist. Hell, watching him tickle the ivories during one of several musical excursions, you might come away from the film thinking the guy’s made of musical notes rather than DNA chains. You watch those gnarly fingers of his, wondering how on earth they can be so brilliantly dextrous, much like you can’t quite figure out how the guy is still alive.

But, thankfully, he is. That’s another aspect of his genius.

And Neville, the Academy Award-winning director of 20 Feet From Stardom, has the good sense to simply let Richards tell his own story, in his own way. The premise involves catching the legendary guitarist as he’s in the process of working on a new album (Crosseyed Heart), his first since Main Offender back in 1992. Producer Steve Jordan collaborated with Richards on the material and in gathering a second band – dubbed The X-pensive Winos – that the guitarist obviously loves playing with. He relishes his luck in being in, what he considers, two great bands, but expresses even greater appreciation for what Mick Jagger does as the lead singer of The Stones. Fronting’ a band, apparently, ain’t easy.

Wisdom and genuine appreciation flow from Richards with every utterance. The film takes us on a journey with him as he recounts the many musical influences that shaped his passion and, by living the way he always has, his own ability to leave his imprint on the world. His life has been unimaginable, bountiful in its highs and lows, but the man shares each and every moment he can with us, riffing on the licks like he might in a warm-up jam session, the kind of interplay that rarely ever ends up caught on tape. Fortunately, Neville is a consummate professional, ever-ready with mic and camera rolling. (tt stern-enzi)