Back in action

WHEN we first met US federal agents Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and Alejandro Gillick (Benicio del Toro) in Sicario (2015), they were determined to bring down the drug cartels who were working the US-Mexico border using any means necessary.
Their methods may not be legal or ethical for most parts, but they get the job done.
In the upcoming Sicario 2: Day of the Soldado, the drug war has escalated further, as the cartels are now trafficking terrorists across the border.
This time, to stop them, Graver and Gillick kidnap Isabela Reyes (Isabela Moner), the daughter of a drug lord, to start a war between rival cartels.
In an interview transcript provided by TGV Pictures Sdn Bhd, Del Toro and Moner give some insight into the movie and their respective characters.
What can you tease people about Sicario 2: Day of the Soldado?
Del Toro: "It's another chapter and has its own pace. It might have some of the characters from Sicario and might be in the same realm as the original. It's unpredictable and an emotional ride, and it's entertaining."
Were you nervous coming back for the sequel, or were you sort of immediately want to return to this character?
Del Toro: "I was nervous ... When I read the script it was different, [but] it had the same (screenplay writer) 'Taylor Sheriden' taste. It had that readiness, realism that I gravitated to it, so did Brolin.
"So, we just took a leap of faith with the new director who did a really good job, and the music is cool in the movie, and it's got its own thing."
What makes the stakes higher this time?
Del Toro: "He is caught in a moral dilemma between the war that he's been part of creating, and the fact that he is moved to protect this young girl who was part of the war he initiated.
"That makes the character different, unexpected for me anyways, the character that I knew and I got to understand in Sicario. This character now has different levels of humanity to him that I didn't see in the previous film. So, that was exciting."
What's the relationship between Matt [Graver] and Alejandro [Gillick]?
Del Toro: "Matt is the character that Brolin plays, and who hires me to be part of the covert operation, when everything starts to fall apart.
"He basically asks Alejandro to do something, and Alejandro feels that it's not the right thing to do. This puts the two of them head to head.
"I got the chance to play with my buddy, Brolin, it's always great, and it really works on film."
How was it working with Benicio [del Toro] and Josh [Brolin] in the film?
Moner: I think initially the idea of working with Benicio and Josh was quite intimidating.
"I wasn't really sure how to carry myself, and you know when you're meeting somebody that you really admire, you're just really being self-conscious and, like, what do I say, and I don't know what to do, and it was so the opposite of that once I got to know them. We just hung out.
"I have a lot of guy friends, we have the funniest conversations. Josh is really good at making fart noises and I would make them with him, and we will all have competitions. It was so fun being on set with him."
What is something that surprises you about Benicio and Josh?
Moner: "What surprises me about them is that Benicio loves churros and Josh is … I kind of expected him to be the cool guy, but he loves his daughter so much and this surprised me really much. He is so supportive of her.
"He has a singing and acting career, and it's really cool to get to know him."