Great story yes, but bad cinematography

Rating: 4/10 (26 February 2009)

Everyone has already commented (over and over) about how good the story is. How many awards it has won. So I will not enter that discussion other than to say it is a great story in my opinion.
However, I found the cinematography to be extremely unpleasing, most especially since all of the hype surrounding this piece and more over an academy award in this category. The imagery that plays in most cases, comes across as a pseudo documentary style. I realize some of the locations may have been difficult to shoot in, but with the budget they had to work with one would expect better photography might be in order.
Further, the hand held nature does so very little to help exemplify the visual story telling but rather detracts from it, creating an unpleasant distraction, taking the viewer away from the drama of the story. The framing and composition is below average most of the time, finding the talent on the opposite side of the leading frame in some cases. The hard light sources are nothing shy of irritating and even some what confusing to the story telling process.
I'm sorry but I really don't see it. I have watched many docu-drama's that have been put together much better and have not received any notoriety, let alone to this degree. I suppose name and connections get you a great deal further ultimately.