I agree both were wonderful...but I don't agree that the challenge was greater for Banderas. They both faced different challenges. Vocally? Hands down, it goes to Banderas. It's a bear of a role for anyone. But the challenge put before Harvey Fierstein was making an entire audience believe he was the mother of a chubby girl from Maryland. And it had to be done with honesty. I've encountered the challenge of playing a woman...not a drag queen or tranny...but a woman. It's thrilling and very difficult. If you are not 100% committed to making the audience believe in you as a woman, you are sunk.
Harvey may not have great 'range', whatever that may mean. And one could argue that playing a Latin lover facing midlife is not all that much of a stretch for Banderas. But it doesn't matter...the quality of both performances were beyond reproach and I would not have wanted to have to choose between the two.
If I had to, I probably would have gone with Banderas, myself. But I have to recognize the brilliant artistry displayed by Fierstein.
"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."