Danila Bagrov represents old Russia, he's unpretentious and patriotic despite Russia's downfalls, for good and for bad, while his brother represents the Russia that sold out. Viktor goes where his bread is buttered, whether it's being a neo-nazi or proclaiming his new found love for American capitalism. He claims to love his country yet he's willing to betray it at the first opportunity. While Danila is struggling to adapt in Chicago and mingling with non-Russians, Viktor is out having fun and making a fool out of Russian identity, creating divides with Ukrainians. Mitya rejects the communist Russian way by refusing to give Danila a place to crash. Danila on the other hand is always quite giving. Almost everyone around Danila rejects him (or old Russia), however some are drawn to his simple ways (Saltikova, Lisa Jeffrey) - Danila is the refreshingly honest, down-to-earth aspect that they are missing in their lives.
The film questions fraternity and its meaning. Despite being blood brothers, Danila and Viktor are really quite different. Viktor is quite a coward and a sell-out. He is racist without reason, while Danila is just very "soviet" in his mentality. Yet Danila meets people of different races and nationalities that have more in common with him.
I personally think he is a good character, it's just the constant shootings that blacken him. But I don't think Danila is meant to be either good or bad; he is an enigma and symbolic of old Russia. Unlike most, he realizes that even the strong or good-natured can fall, whether it's a street bum or a prostitute, and it doesn't mean THEY'RE bad people (as the German in Brother 1 said). According to Danila, the bad ones are those who cheat the weak and honest, who render them that way. Just like at the end when he shares a vodka with that American. Countries alone aren't bad, but rather the people who are in charge that cheat the good or trusting. Although Danila clearly dislikes the American way of life he does meet some good people on the way that he goes on to reward in some way (the truck driver, Tv presenter lol). Danila provides the missing link that these "weak" people hoped for, and he gives them power. He shoots the "bad" people just as they have shot down the weak. There is a song by Nautilus called Nezhniy Vampir that reminds me of his character.
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