Brian Earl Spilner said:
I don't even think La La Land is that great, but I never understand when they give a movie so many awards (Director, Actress, Screenplay, etc), and yet give Best Picture to a movie that hardly won anything else.
What exactly is the logic here?
Many reasons come to mind.
Director - La La Land was a bigger undertaking overall. Moonlight was brilliant but La La Land had a lot more to manage (sets, costumes, music, variety of shots, etc.) I think most viewed it as a bigger mountain to climb from a directing stand point because a large part of directing is just being a manager. Moonlight was more about the writing, and putting the camera down and letting the actors nail the script. Especially recently the Academy has awarded not just artistry but movies that required a lot technically and a lot to manage (Birdman, Gravity, Life of Pi, etc.)
Actress - Well there was no leading actress in Moonlight so that explains that
Screenplay - Moonlight actually won screen play while La La Land did not, so that really doesn't belong on your list.
As for the other nominations/awards, La La Land was just the type of movie to garner a lot and be eligible for a lot (big production, musical, lots of different types of cinematography, two main stars, etc.). Moonlight was simpler, no big sets or costumes or music so it just wasn't up for as many things.