Expected more

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Disclaimer:What my title refers to is, I was in one of the 3 documentaries - all filmed roughly the same time, here in NYC - about junkies. I was in one (UNION SQUARE THE MOVIE), My best friend is in one ('Sebastian', in Dope, Sick, Love), and someone I know well - Michael, is in this documentary.While I'd never had the chance to see this documentary before, I'm just watching it now, and, right off the bat, I want to say: NOT ALL 'METHADONIANS' are as the people in this film appear.It IS true, that there are people in methadone programs (MMTP for short) who DO take benzo's (benzodiazapenes) in order to get a heroin-like high from the methadone.But, I NEVER did, and a lot of people I see at my program, and know, don't.I also want to say that as this film (as well as mine; UNION SQUARE THE MOVIE (and Sebastian's film, Dope, Sick, Love) were all filmed over 6 years ago, all three of us have progressed quite a lot form these times.In this film, Michael (who was shown with his dark glasses on, and nodding out at group) looks MUCH better. He's put on weight, he's got a home, and, he's cleaned up his act.I was happy to see that several other people who are on Methadone weren't 'ashamed' to hide it, and LOUDLY say not all methadonians are like these.That's what really annoyed me, as well.In ANY situation, there'll always be 'bad apples,' and as this film-maker thought - he could focus on these people (at that time) and make what seems to be a 'blanket-statement' about ALL methadonians, and Mr. Negroonte's belief that the Methadone makers sole purpose is to keep us hooked.I can tell you that is WRONG.ANother point, is that, a lot of people just starting on an MMTP are 'on-the-fence' - they've foot dangling in the 'junkie life,' and another dangling in the 'real' worldThat period can last a person months, or years.It all depends on when the person gets tired of the old ways, and WANTS a LIFE.So, as far as Michael goes - he was in that stage when this was made.But, he's not anymore, and, I'd bet that of the people in this film - or at methadone programs in general, a good percentage has passed onto living a higher quality of life.Trying to get off methadone IS more difficult (the reason being that, unlike heroin, methadone acts MUCH longer. Therefore, it's harder to get it out of the body.It's NOT part of a 'nefarious' plot to make people addicted. WE did that to OURSELVES).But, kicking methadone ISN'T the ONLY option.Someone once told me - and I agree - that, as a diabetic needs dialysis lifelong, so, does a methadone client. IF (that's 'I-F') they choose.As of now, that's what I choose.Because, for me - it makes me feel secure - from myself.I don't know yet (almost a decade on it) if I wouldn't run out and cop some dope.But, I also know that on methadone, I've my family back, I've a terrific home, and life.Same goes for Sebastian - and Steve in this film.I wish that Mr. Negroponte would have taken this film, and 'sat' on it for several years.Then, he could pick up the stories 5-or-so years later, and see what impact methadone had on these people's lives.I don't know the other people in this film, but, if Mr. Negropnte had done that, he'd see a 180 degree difference in Michael.Showing the POSITIVE would be great.

Methadonia tells a sad and depressing story. It follows the life of a handful of methadone patients. All are in a state of despair, and I couldn't help but feeling sympathetic for them.The most charismatic and most lovable character, Steve, is truly the substance of the film and the reason why you keep watching.I also liked this documentary because it never veered too far politically. But in a way, I wish it had. Apparently methadone clinics are private industries and it pays to keep patients. I would have liked more investigation on this to bring this situation to light.This doesn't tell as good of a story as say "Hoop Dreams" or documentaries like that, but it does a worthy job of giving a glimpse into the part of American life that most people (fortunately) don't get to see.

Shown as an official selection at the New York Film Festival, September 2005.Negroponte used a DV camera to follow half a dozen New York City "recovering" heroin addicts on methadone maintenance. The point of the title is not a new one. It's that as a rehabilitation tool for drug addicts, methadone, which is just a drug substitute for heroin, isn't such a good idea. Its wide use in the US was initiated back in the Sixties as a transitional stage, but being itself a drug, it's little more than a not-so-great legal high for many addicts, who when on methadone, instead of getting clean are lingering in a netherworld "Methadonia." What we learn is that some of the users Negroponte filmed have been on the chemical for as long as three decades; that clinics are now doling out up to six times the original allowable dose; and that the street availability of benzo-pills like Xanax by which addicts can cheaply supplement and enhance the methadone high means many receiving methadone are not in recovery in any way shape or form. This is certainly important to be aware of. But what's otherwise lacking in Negroponte's pseudo-dramatic narration is any sophistication about the recovery process. The addicts are seen as members of a group, and their leader/counselor Millie, who has been clean for nine years, provides some hard truths, but since there's next to nothing about the Twelve Steps, or up to date rehab statistics or insights, it's hard to see this as anything but dumb as an account of the addiction, treatment, and recovery. Some of the addicts featured who showed up for the festival screening may have gotten motivation from seeing their stories filmed, but viewers of this limited and simplistic documentary are being shortchanged on information. This was definitely one of the NYFF's weakest selections, in my opinion the weakest. I am at a loss as to why it was chosen, other than the fact of its being strongly rooted in the New York City environment. I can only deduce that the the jury, which has such a keen eye for film-making quality, are lacking in sophistication about addiction and recovery and were fooled by the dramatic tone into thinking they were getting important new revelations, when when on the whole they were getting nothing of the kind.

HBO seems to be--pardon the pun--addicted to producing documentaries about drugs and drug addiction. From the sensationalistic and not terribly enlightening Crank: Made In America to the remarkable Dope Sick Love, Home Box Office can't seem to get enough of America's love affair with narcotics and other controlled substances. Thankfully, Methadonia is more than just another example of the pornography of despair, and serves to enlighten viewers about the Methadone experience and how recently developed psychotropics interact with it. The film focuses on a half dozen New York junkies over an 18 month period and their struggles with coping with not only their addictions to heroin and mood elevators but with the detox from Methadone itself. You'll gain a new appreciation for the hardships these folks live through, and the courage it takes for them to try to reclaim a normal life. Moving and uplifting, Methadonia is essential viewing for documentary fans.