This documentary has to be one of CNN's worst... The drama they attempt to inject into this flaccid story is pitiful. If strange stories stemming from the Cold War era are surprising to you, then congratulations, you've finally woken up from the coma that you have been in since 1970.I actually fell asleep watching this in theatres, which was a first.

Enthraling, capitvating. I drove over an hour to see this movie, yet did not expect the twists and turns. These boys grab your heart and dont let go. I would read the book if they wrote one, which would be great because the movie does leave you wanting to know more.

Stories about Twins (and other pairs of siblings) separated at birth aren't all that uncommon - but, triplets? Director Tim Wardle takes that rare occurrence and runs with it in the breathless and highly entertaining first section of his Documentary THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS. Wardle also cleverly edits his footage (including the interviews) in order to preserve as many surprises about the secrets and lies to come later in the movie. Some might argue that Wardle's technique is a bit of cheat, but, for those who enter without knowing the full story it enhances the viewing, even if it does cause some issues later on. The story is told quite sequentially, and, again, that is in service of providing more drama as the Doc unfolds. Because the events go back to the 60s, many of the participants aren't around any longer to speak for themselves. Still, Wardle and his team managed to assemble a good cross-section of survivors to go on the record. Because the story was such a cause celebre in the early 80s (and in the NYC area to boot) we are also able to see a decent amount of historical footage of the triplets and their rise to fame including trips to the Today show, Donahue and a brief cameo in Susan Seidelman's DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN (supposedly at the behest of star Madonna). Some fairly minor dramatic re-enactments are also employed, and aren't distracting (Wardle also maintains the proper aspect ratio in much of the vintage footage - to his credit). As the true tale turns darker, a few issues with the filmmaking arrive. I won't delve into spoilers (I avoided them myself in order for the Doc to have maximum impact), but, the old Nurture vs. Nature debate becomes a key point of contention - as it does with all of these 'separated at birth' cases. Because of the way Wardle structures his editing, we mostly get the 'Nature' perspective until very late in the process. Further, a major cache of evidence is dropped in at the very last moment, and isn't sufficiently analyzed. It's understood that after five years in the making, Wardle, Raw, Neon and other production entities wanted to get their movie done and released, but one can't help but feel the editing was wrapped up in order to get a prized Sundance Film Festival spot. Wardle also includes a couple of curious montages repeating what we've seen earlier as if he had an eye on TV showings (CNN is set to show it). But, these problems pale compared to Wardle's casting a light on some highly unethical behavior that effected the triplets' lives. These relatively minor issues aside, THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS again shows why there is a bit of Documentary boom going on. In a cinema dominated by Superhero and Animated flicks, there is a yearning among some adults for movies of substance and reality. STRANGERS is a true emotional roller-coaster.

I went to see Three Identical Strangers in theaters without knowing almost anything about the story and was surprised and amazed from start to finish. The story that focuses on triplets who were separated at birth and reunited by chance at age 19, wastes no time in drawing you in. With a series of both incredible and disturbing twists the film keeps you completely engaged throughout as it shifts from the exciting reunion story to the darker elements of how this event shaped these young men's lives. The film does a great job letting its audience get to know and feel for the main subjects. It delivers an intimate portrayal the unbelievable event that begins the story, as well as the events that followed, which keeps the audience all the more emotionally connected to the people at the center of this story. Finally, this film is an absolute must see for anyone interested in psychology, specifically the nature vs nurture debate. Although the film sometimes forgets to address all sides of the story, it ultimately asks more questions than it attempts to answer, which is a good thing. The fact that the film can't settle this debate, gives the audience more to reflect on and makes the film more interesting. Ultimately, Three Identical Strangers in a compelling, well crafted documentary telling a shocking true story that will keep you thinking for days after you see it.