American Dreamer

The hottest movie to be released this Fall is, without a doubt, American Gangster, due in theatres this November. Starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, the film recounts the story of a clandestined druglord, Frank Lucas (Washington) who is sought out by a unpopular cop, Richie Roberts (Crowe). It seems as though, both are the best of professionals in their respective trades, making for a power-house movie packed with drugs, guns, blood, and money.
But behind all the drama, it is worth asking, what's the point? Sure the movie is "based on a true story", but somehow I doubt that a history class somewhere will be analyzing the ex-gladiator and ex-boxer duke it out on the screen in class. Additionally I doubt that the average movie goer will leave the theatre wanting to read-up on the life of the Lucas Family history. So we have a film, American Gangster which gives the masses an action fix, while presumeably pumping them up with values like "honesty" and "family" and the "American Dream", all the while blowing up cars, buildings and people -- some dream.
I guess the only answer left is "That's entertainment" with the true-story adjective nonetheless, implying to the audience that movies are in fact, a productive experience, at least for the pockets of Hollywood...