Why so much hype?

Stylish but barely mediocre overall

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

I discovered Keith Richards - the musician, not the rock star - somewhat late in life. I'm a guitar player and I have a passion for blues, especially the raw, unpolished stuff recorded in the fifties and early sixties - but my love for this kind of unfiltered, emotional music only developed over time. As most young guitar players, I was originally far more interested in ultra-fast virtuosos and had little respect for guitarists who didn't engage in extended solos at 10 notes per second. Well, let's just say I'm glad I eventually broadened my horizon a little: because that's how I got into Keith's music.This documentary will probably disappoint many, because it's all about the music of Keith Richards and the music that inspired - and still inspires - him (which is also what the title refers to). It's not a film about the Stones or drug abuse, orgies and groupies: it's about a man who loves his art and respects and admires his peers. We get to hang out with him as he introduces us to his musical influences and contemplates his musical journey, and we get to see him jam and hang out with friends like Buddy Guy, Waddy Wachtel or Tom Waits, people who all share his passion and treat him like a fellow musician - not like a rock star. I absolutely adored this documentary and I appreciated the fact that it's not about the legendary junkie, but about the gifted songwriter and guitar player who - together with his band - played a key role in making America aware of some of its greatest talents by playing their music: Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Little Walther, John Lee Hooker and many more.This documentary is great stuff for blues aficionados and musicians; I give the film 9 stars out of 10, but I only recommend it to people who are less interested in Keith the rock star and more in Keith the musician. If you're among the latter, sit back and enjoy, because you're in for a treat. And Keith: stay well and keep rockin', you're the man.

Netflix has been making some award-winning documentaries over the past few years, and here is another original- a bio-doc about "Rolling Stones" guitarist, Keith Richards! This mostly features Keith talking about his many influences; a big part of which are American blues artists like Muddy Waters. I found it interesting as I was watching this, not being a "nationalist" by any means, but still swelling up with a little bit of pride hearing him talk about the great thing America gave to the world (as he puts it- not the "H bomb"). In spite of enjoying this documentary, I did have one big disappointment with it.. I mean, c'mon, you're interviewing Keith Richards for 90 minutes, and you don't get to hear about any of his great rock star party stories-???!!! LOL

"Under the Influence" is an intimate portrait of Keith Richards, the music lover. It is highly recommended to Rolling Stones fans and music aficionados. After over fifty years of Richards's career in pop music, this is the film that finally describes the music that made the man avoiding all the sex, drugs and rock'n'roll gossip. It is a significant and welcomed change from decades of accounts tainted by a meaningless narrative of debauchery that satisfied the lowest of rock'n'roll fans' desires and kept many others hungry for good and true music story. The 81 minutes of the film go very fast in a journey that brings the viewer through the main genres of American popular music: blues, country, rock'n'roll. Richards visits New York, Chicago and Nashville and recounts his fascination for American music and his encounters with the legends that inspired the Stones, from Muddy Waters to Howlin' Wolf and Chuck Berry. The interview briefly covers several other aspects of the musician's work like song-writing, recording processes, solo career and the use of different instruments. The film contains also precious footage of studio recordings with Tom Waits and Richards's house sessions in Jamaica with the Wingless Angels. Richards in his short, sometimes convoluted, phrases conveys all the devotion and deep appreciation for what music can bring into one's life. A strong sense of the passing of time and mortality brings in another novelty for a Stones documentary and makes Keith Richards's testimony somehow touching. Great little film on a great music soul.

Keith Richards: Under the Influence (2015) *** (out of 4)This Netflix documentary has Keith Richards talking about a variety of subjects while touring with The Rolling Stones on their 2015 tour as well as preparing his solo album Crosseyed Heart.If you're a fan of Richards or the Stones then you're obviously going to want to check this film out as there's some great interview footage as well as some behind-the-scenes footage from the recent tour. The biggest flaw with this film is that it's rather uneven and I'd argue that 83 minutes isn't nearly enough time to fully get into the mind of Richards. Part of the film is a promo piece for the new album as Richards talks about what made him get back into the studio with a solo album and he also talks about his influences on the album. Whenever the new album isn't being discussed we get the legends talking about his influences, other rebels of rock music, country music, the blues and what it was like being chewed out by Chuck Berry.Again, this is a good and entertaining film but at the same time you can't help but think there's so much more to know about Richards and there's just not enough time here to capture everything. Still, it was great fun getting to see him in the studio recording the new tracks and there's no question that he always manages to have something interesting to say.