Well, La La Land dominated the award season as #1 in the competitive Rotten Tomatoes Movie Leaderboards of 2016 in Achievements with 80 wins. They are very equal. What La La Land lacks in story is with a great foundation in Moonlight. What Moonlight lacks in third acts, pacing and execution (of certain scenes) are to LLL. Visuals I would give to the best picture winner while score and direction to the other front runner. Cinematography I would say is equivalent in both, the acting approaches both fit their movies and the scripts - all of the actors had complete grasp upon their characters in both films.

Although Moonlight won best picture, it is second in the award season, which I think is fair considering that both films deserve to be winners.

Both Moonlight and La La Land were great movies but LLL was the one I enjoyed more. It's all subjective at the end of the day but LLL just resonated with me more.

My vote is for La La Land. I hate musicals but I really liked that movie.

Moonlight was good, but it really wasnt that compelling. The main character spent the whole movie moping around and being sad while he goes through a depressing life. The tone of the movie was a static line throughout with no real climax or changes at any point. At the start of the movie he is this lonely kid and at the end of the movie he is this lonely guy.

Both movies were pure Oscarbait for sure. High production value musical circlejerk about white people chasing the Hollywood dream vs gay black mans depressing story in the hood.

I think La La Land is the better film - that's why it took home cinematography, director, actress, score, song, production design, etc. It is the better arched story - it has a beginning, middle, end, a lesson, character development.

Moonlight was a differently made film.

Moonlight was the more important win, if this makes sense, in response to #OscarsSoWhite

I don't think it was a response to the Oscars so white controversy at all. This was a film that spoke volumes about the problems facing black men growing up in these types of areas- the lack of a role model, the only real options being drugs or death, the need to be like everyone else for fear of being singled out as different, the lack of self expression- and this film was done not by a Hollywood elite getting on a soap box but from a director who puts all these things out there without being preachy whatsoever. It's a remarkable accomplishment. Not sure why it is getting such backlash. I did a whole review on youtube on it if anyone is interested-https://youtu.be/mfTEbJWweOk

@Aylmer said:

I couldn't make it through much of Moonlight, so I can't comment on it, wasn't a fan of LaLaLand - so I'd say, no, Moonlight didn't deserve the Oscar for best anything. My personal favorite and one of the few films made this century worthy of a Best Picture Oscar was "Manchester by the Sea"

Were you the guy in charge of handing out the best movie winner card that night?

@PipedUpMovies said:

I have not watched either La La Land or Moonlight but I am seeing a lot of negative reviews for Moonlight on IMDB (although the overall rating is high). In normal circumstances, I would not question the winner that much, and I would certainly not look at the actors' and directors' skin colour, but coming a year after the OscarsSoWhite (in my opinion, pointless and stupid) movement, I can't help feeling that Moonlight's win is a sop to 'diversity'. Look, look, they're black. AND homosexual. How amazing! Heterosexual whites and their strange reproductive ways are being put in the their place!

Anyway, as I said, this would not be my normal reaction. Some of my favourite cinematic moments involve blacks or homosexuality but OscarsSoWhite has left a sour taste in my mouth and in my opinion will sully Moonlight's win because it makes it feel like a participation trophy to blacks instead of a real win.

I wonder what people who have watched La La Land and Moonlight think.

No. Everyone knows why it won.

I don't even care anymore. The Oscars have officially become a joke. They clearly don't want to be taken seriously anymore. I just don't take it seriously. Everyone knows what the best movies REALLY were. Let the voters get their political agendas out though, and everyone has to get a trophy because they're black and gay. Affirmative Action twofold. What they basically told the film world is: "forget if your movie is the best or not, but just make it about blacks in the ghetto and you're guaranteed award nominations and award attention. Better yet, make it about being black AND GAY, and you automatically win the best picture Oscar by default. Now, let's go home." If Mel Gibson made Desmond Doss black, he would have doubled his chances at best pic. Black AND gay, he'd be a lock and shoe in for it.

@Heisenberg12 said:

@PipedUpMovies said:

I have not watched either La La Land or Moonlight but I am seeing a lot of negative reviews for Moonlight on IMDB (although the overall rating is high). In normal circumstances, I would not question the winner that much, and I would certainly not look at the actors' and directors' skin colour, but coming a year after the OscarsSoWhite (in my opinion, pointless and stupid) movement, I can't help feeling that Moonlight's win is a sop to 'diversity'. Look, look, they're black. AND homosexual. How amazing! Heterosexual whites and their strange reproductive ways are being put in the their place!

Anyway, as I said, this would not be my normal reaction. Some of my favourite cinematic moments involve blacks or homosexuality but OscarsSoWhite has left a sour taste in my mouth and in my opinion will sully Moonlight's win because it makes it feel like a participation trophy to blacks instead of a real win.

I wonder what people who have watched La La Land and Moonlight think.

No. Everyone knows why it won.

I don't even care anymore. The Oscars have officially become a joke. They clearly don't want to be taken seriously anymore. I just don't take it seriously. Everyone knows what the best movies REALLY were. Let the voters get their political agendas out though, and everyone has to get a trophy because they're black and gay. Affirmative Action twofold. What they basically told the film world is: "forget if your movie is the best or not, but just make it about blacks in the ghetto and you're guaranteed award nominations and award attention. Better yet, make it about being black AND GAY, and you automatically win the best picture Oscar by default. Now, let's go home." If Mel Gibson made Desmond Doss black, he would have doubled his chances at best pic. Black AND gay, he'd be a lock and shoe in for it.

boohooo, poor white people not getting awards although they think they deserve them.

Get yourself together, man, for decades having a white straight character was a requirement to win any mainstream award at all. Now this changes and you start whining. Plus, a film with two straight white leads was serious competition for Moonlight and won six Oscars, including best director. It also won 7 Golden Globes, 5 BAFTAs, I mean, what is your problem? Get some perspective!

@SunParakeet said:

@Heisenberg12 said:

@PipedUpMovies said:

I have not watched either La La Land or Moonlight but I am seeing a lot of negative reviews for Moonlight on IMDB (although the overall rating is high). In normal circumstances, I would not question the winner that much, and I would certainly not look at the actors' and directors' skin colour, but coming a year after the OscarsSoWhite (in my opinion, pointless and stupid) movement, I can't help feeling that Moonlight's win is a sop to 'diversity'. Look, look, they're black. AND homosexual. How amazing! Heterosexual whites and their strange reproductive ways are being put in the their place!

Anyway, as I said, this would not be my normal reaction. Some of my favourite cinematic moments involve blacks or homosexuality but OscarsSoWhite has left a sour taste in my mouth and in my opinion will sully Moonlight's win because it makes it feel like a participation trophy to blacks instead of a real win.

I wonder what people who have watched La La Land and Moonlight think.

No. Everyone knows why it won.

I don't even care anymore. The Oscars have officially become a joke. They clearly don't want to be taken seriously anymore. I just don't take it seriously. Everyone knows what the best movies REALLY were. Let the voters get their political agendas out though, and everyone has to get a trophy because they're black and gay. Affirmative Action twofold. What they basically told the film world is: "forget if your movie is the best or not, but just make it about blacks in the ghetto and you're guaranteed award nominations and award attention. Better yet, make it about being black AND GAY, and you automatically win the best picture Oscar by default. Now, let's go home." If Mel Gibson made Desmond Doss black, he would have doubled his chances at best pic. Black AND gay, he'd be a lock and shoe in for it.

boohooo, poor white people not getting awards although they think they deserve them.

Get yourself together, man, for decades having a white straight character was a requirement to win any mainstream award at all. Now this changes and you start whining. Plus, a film with two straight white leads was serious competition for Moonlight and won six Oscars, including best director. It also won 7 Golden Globes, 5 BAFTAs, I mean, what is your problem? Get some perspective!

"Get yourself together, man, for decades having a white straight character was a requirement to win any mainstream award at all. "

^ Hence, "Affirmative Action". And this is just your perception or perspective. Black movies weren't good for decades, and overall they're still not.

I hope the NBA protests next year that no whites win MVP awards and there's not enough white players in the league. Then, quality of play will diminish likewise, too. You need to get some perspective. Just because your skin color, it doesn't make you good or the best.

I liked the fact that a film with an all leading black actors whose main character is a black person won Best Picture. But I really didn't like the content of the movie. I didn't like the message the movie gives about what homosexuality is. I rather have Fences win because it has stronger black characters and a honest story about characters and a more common realistic family dynamic. I know people like Rose and Troy: good black mothers/wives who don't know how to raise black their sons into strong dependable respectable men and who give too much of themselves into a relationship. I know strong disciplinary parents like Troy. I know families like their families. I don't know any crack head mothers raising boys who are dressed as well as Chiron was. Or that there are gay drug dealers. Moonlight just looked unrealistic.

@the_Poppuns said:

I just finished watching Moonlight. I thought it was Oscar worthy, as were much of the nominated movies. Of those Hell or High Water was my favorite.

i loved hell or high water as well. i think it should have definitely won best original screenplay over manchester by the sea. the best film category was of a very good standard this year imo.

@LadyGigi said: "But I really didn't like the content of the movie. I didn't like the message the movie gives about what homosexuality is."

For the sake of discussion, what was the message about homosexuality the film was conveying?

@NoVaNY-Cinematico said:

@LadyGigi said: "But I really didn't like the content of the movie. I didn't like the message the movie gives about what homosexuality is."

For the sake of discussion, what was the message about homosexuality the film was conveying?

i would like to know the answer to this question as well. surely there is no definitive message about what it is like to live with a marginalised sexuality?

Manchester by the Sea is my favourite of those I've seen (haven't seen Lion or Hacksaw Ridge) but Moonlight is something of a breath of fresh air, a genuinely moving, beautifully shot film. I'd certainly consider it one of the strongest winners of the new millennium so far and add that Barry Jenkins deserved the Best Director Oscar for his work on the movie, which managed the tricky balancing act of being eye-catching and with a distinctive voice yet managing not to be posey or self-conscious. I am very happy that it won, a landmark win, really.

@PipedUpMovies said:

I have not watched either La La Land or Moonlight but I am seeing a lot of negative reviews for Moonlight on IMDB (although the overall rating is high). In normal circumstances, I would not question the winner that much, and I would certainly not look at the actors' and directors' skin colour, but coming a year after the OscarsSoWhite (in my opinion, pointless and stupid) movement, I can't help feeling that Moonlight's win is a sop to 'diversity'. Look, look, they're black. AND homosexual. How amazing! Heterosexual whites and their strange reproductive ways are being put in the their place!

Anyway, as I said, this would not be my normal reaction. Some of my favourite cinematic moments involve blacks or homosexuality but OscarsSoWhite has left a sour taste in my mouth and in my opinion will sully Moonlight's win because it makes it feel like a participation trophy to blacks instead of a real win.

I wonder what people who have watched La La Land and Moonlight think.

I have now viewed Moonlight four times and La La Land twice, and Moonlight is the superior film by far. Yes, the movie breaks new ground socially in its portrayal or black homosexuality or bisexuality, but what renders the movie deserving is how it does so. Moonlight is exceptionally intimate, painful, and moving, and it is full of nuance in a way that really resists cliche. Stylish without being ostentatious, surreal while being painfully real, ethereal yet with awkward exchanges and silences that are incredibly honest and lifelike, Moonlight constituted an optimal choice for Best Picture. In my opinion, it is one of two "great" movies from 2016 (the other is Sully, which may have been the best film of the year yet only received one Oscar nomination and not in a major category) and one of eleven "great" fictional feature films from the last five years (2012-2016), along with Django Unchained, Life of Pi, 12 Years a Slave, Joe, Fury, Foxcatcher, American Sniper, The Walk, Bridge of Spies, and Sully.

La La Land, conversely, is merely "pretty good," meaning above-average yet less than a full-fledged "good," let alone "very good" or "great." I am not a La La Land hater, and the film does possess some admirable qualities, especially on a technical level. The movie is definitely one of the best 2016 releases from a visual perspective and it richly deserved its nomination for Best Cinematography. La La Land indeed received the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, and although there were other worthy choices in that category (including the more subtle Moonlight), I may well have gone for La La Land myself due to its marvelous combination of color and composition. The film's editing is also excellent. However, despite those technical strengths, some enjoyable humor and lively lead performances, and some occasionally intelligent thematic concerns, La La Land still strikes me as a ridiculously overrated movie, much like the other two films that have scored fourteen Oscar nominations, All About Eve and Titantic. La La Land is better than Titantic, but it is essentially "artifice" masquerading as "art." The film is overly ambitious, the musical numbers are banal, and those numbers inhibit what could have constituted a compelling romantic comedy. La La Land is only the third-worst of the 2016 Best Picture nominees (ahead of the worthwhile yet pedestrian Hidden Figures and the awful Arrival), but in no way is it worthy of a Best Picture nomination, and I would not deem it one of the twenty best movies of 2016.

The "Oscars So White" controversy proved misguided for multiple reasons, and its effects were predictable—when a "black" movie succeeded in the future, many people would consider that success to be tokenistic and the product of "political correctness" or de facto affirmative action. And if Hidden Figures had indeed received Best Picture, those suspicions would have been warranted. But Moonlight is actually a "great" movie, and like another wonderful film from 2016, Fences, it succeeds in part because it directly speaks to the African-American experience (especially the male African-American experience) while transcending that experience. Trust me, one does not need to be black or gay to relate to Moonlight and find the film emotionally haunting and rewarding, or to see aspects of one's own life somehow reflected. Ultimately, it is a film about humanity, whereas La La Land is a film about Hollywood spectacle masquerading as humanity.

In other words, do not judge a book by its cover, or to mix my metaphors, see the films before judging them. (And I understand that other people's judgments may respectably differ from mine.)