All of that is a lazy way of getting out of writing an actual story and just letting the camera work carry the script. The best actor in the film was only on screen for 20 minutes, then he just disappears. The third act was awful all the way around.It was a character study and we popped in on him at pivotal points in his life.
Aaron Sorkin did the same thing with "Jobs"
Nikkas are expecting it to have a typical structure and plot. Doesn't make it a thin screenplay because it doesn't follow the 3 act structure.
Like someone previously said, if the protagonist was straight, this would be on Netflix getting ignored. You know how I know this? Because a far superior movie, Imperial Dreams, is on Netflix and hasn't gotten anything close to the praise of moonlight.
Moonlight wasn't about the black experience whatsoever, but that's what white people thought it was. A hood safari with a gay tour guide.