Hollywood in the Fast Lane: Mob Movies, Horse Racing, Ferraris, Yachts & High-Stakes Entertainment

Buddy from Brooklyn: The Racehorse Trainer Who Entered New York's Underworld

One of the most intriguing motion pictures currently in development is Buddy from Brooklyn, the ambitious historical crime drama based on the extraordinary life of Howard "Buddy" Jacobson.

Jacobson was no ordinary horse trainer. Born into one of America's most influential racing families, he moved through the worlds of Belmont Park, Aqueduct, Saratoga, wealthy horse owners, gamblers, glamorous Manhattan models and the notorious nightlife of 1970s New York.

His family's extraordinary racing connections included Hall of Fame trainer Hirsch Jacobs. But Buddy's life eventually became a far darker story involving a sensational murder case, a prison escape and a nationwide manhunt.

The planned production explores the collision of old-money racing society, fashion, nightlife, ambition and organized crime during an era when the lines between legitimate business and the underworld were not always easy to distinguish.

Producer Jay Shapiro has assembled early talent commitments from performers associated with The Sopranos, The Godfather and other notable films. Among the project's developments is the addition of Zachary "Zack" Jacobson, Buddy's grandson, as Executive Consulting Producer.

The film remains in development, with its theatrical release date not yet announced. For readers fascinated by racing history, Manhattan nightlife and true American crime stories, it is a production worth following closely.

Official Motion Picture Website

Paper Tiger: Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver and the Russian Mafia

Director James Gray returns to the kind of gritty New York crime storytelling that has distinguished his career with Paper Tiger, starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller.

Set in 1980s New York, the film follows two brothers whose dreams of financial success lead them into a dangerous arrangement involving the Russian Mafia.

Driver plays Gary Pearl, a former police officer, while Teller portrays his brother Irwin, an engineer looking for a better life. Johansson plays Irwin's wife as their family becomes increasingly threatened by the criminal world surrounding them.

The film premiered in competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and is scheduled for a November 13 limited release, followed by expansion into additional theaters.

This is precisely the kind of atmospheric, character-driven crime drama that fans of Goodfellas, Casino and The Departed appreciate.

Film Information & Trailer

Sammy "The Bull" Gravano and Carlo Gambino Head Toward the Big Screen

Hollywood's appetite for authentic Mafia stories shows little sign of disappearing.

Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment is developing a motion picture about Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, the notorious Gambino family underboss whose cooperation with federal prosecutors helped bring down John Gotti.

Of particular interest to crime-film enthusiasts is the involvement of Nicholas Pileggi, the writer associated with Goodfellas, Casino and The Irishman. Pileggi has written the screenplay, while filmmaker Ed Burns has reportedly been in discussions to direct.

Another project attracting interest is Gambino, a biographical crime picture focusing on Carlo Gambino, the Sicilian-born crime boss whose influence extended through New York's criminal underworld for decades.

Nicolas Cage has been associated with the project, with director John Woo among the announced creative participants.

Both projects are in development, and neither has a confirmed theatrical release date. Nevertheless, their subjects are substantial enough to attract serious interest from organized-crime enthusiasts.

Upcoming Gangster Productions

Casino Returns to New York with Screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi

Few films have captured the collision of luxury, gambling, organized crime and personal ambition quite like Martin Scorsese's Casino.

Robert De Niro's portrayal of casino operator Sam "Ace" Rothstein, Sharon Stone's performance as Ginger and Joe Pesci's terrifying Nicky Santoro have become landmarks of American crime cinema.

On November 1, New York's IFC Center presents a special 6:00 PM screening followed by an audience discussion with co-screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi.

Pileggi also wrote the nonfiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas, which helped inspire Scorsese's celebrated film.

The event has been listed as sold out, but the program is a reminder that these films remain culturally relevant more than three decades after their original release.

Screening & Event Information

Cody's Wish: A Champion Racehorse and an Extraordinary Friendship

Some of horse racing's most memorable stories involve considerably more than winning races.

The forthcoming documentary Cody's Wish / The Cody Dorman Story: What Makes a Champion? examines the remarkable friendship between champion Thoroughbred Cody's Wish and a Kentucky teenager named Cody Dorman.

During a Make-A-Wish visit to Gainsborough Farm in Lexington in 2018, an unnamed young colt approached Cody's wheelchair and gently rested his head in the boy's lap.

The horse would eventually be named Cody's Wish and develop into one of America's most celebrated racehorses, winning two Breeders' Cup Dirt Miles and earning Horse of the Year honors.

Filming wrapped in 2026, with the production targeting a spring 2027 theatrical release. The story promises to be one of the more moving equestrian documentaries in recent memory.

Documentary Update

Behind the Kentucky Derby: The People Who Make Racing Possible

Hollywood usually focuses on owners, jockeys, million-dollar horses and the excitement of the winner's circle. A recent PBS documentary takes viewers somewhere very different.

BACKSIDE: The Unseen Hands of Horse Racing, directed by Raúl O. Paz-Pastrana, premiered in April 2026 as part of the acclaimed Independent Lens series.

The film follows the immigrant grooms and stable workers who care for Thoroughbreds at Churchill Downs, often arriving at the barns before sunrise.

It offers a powerful examination of the labor, traditions and personal sacrifices that sustain American horse racing.

Another production, Horse Power, is an IMAX documentary narrated by Josh Brolin that explores the remarkable relationship between horses and people across different cultures and equestrian disciplines.

For racing enthusiasts who appreciate the actual horsemen and women behind the sport, both films offer something worthwhile.

PBS Documentary

Maserati: The Brothers Brings Italian Racing Royalty to Hollywood

For readers who appreciate the romance of Italian automobiles, one of the more interesting automotive films on the horizon is Maserati: The Brothers.

The biographical drama explores the family behind the Maserati marque and the determination that helped create one of Italy's most recognized luxury automobile manufacturers.

Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins heads an international cast that also includes Andy Garcia, Jessica Alba and Michele Morrone.

Directed by Bobby Moresco, whose screenwriting credits include Crash, the film examines the personalities, ambition and mechanical ingenuity behind the company's early development.

Although Maserati is the subject, the story also touches on the fierce competitive environment that produced Ferrari, Lamborghini and the great Italian automotive dynasties.

Production has been completed, with international releases scheduled into 2027. U.S. screening details should be checked with distributors.

Motion Picture Details

The Chop: Las Vegas Gambling Personality Vegas Matt Gets a Movie

Casino culture is changing, and Hollywood has noticed.

An independent feature titled The Chop is being developed around Stephen "Matt" Morrow, better known to millions of online viewers as Vegas Matt.

Unlike traditional casino dramas built around mob bosses and high-stakes poker, this film explores the modern world of advantage gambling, slot-machine strategies, online celebrity and the unusual personalities who make their living pursuing an edge.

Filmmaker Mike Young has signed on to write and produce the picture through Red Leaf Entertainment.

The project is targeting a 2027 production start, although casting, financing and release plans have not been finalized.

Whether audiences ultimately embrace the story remains to be seen, but its development demonstrates that the entertainment industry's fascination with gambling is extending well beyond traditional Las Vegas crime stories.

Read About The Chop

Below Deck Returns as Superyacht Entertainment Expands

Luxury yachts have become television entertainment in their own right, and Bravo's Below Deck continues to attract viewers fascinated by the extravagant lifestyles of charter guests and the crews responsible for keeping everything running smoothly.

Season 13 premiered October 12, 2026, with Captain Kerry Titheradge overseeing the motor yacht Azul V in Phuket, Thailand.

Expect spectacular island scenery, demanding charter guests, complicated crew relationships and the occasional reminder that maintaining a floating luxury hotel is not nearly as relaxing as vacationing aboard one.

Meanwhile, a new documentary project titled Superyacht Foodie Adventures was introduced during the 2026 Monaco Yacht Show.

Developed as a six-episode series, it explores the world of luxury yacht chefs and extraordinary cuisine at sea. Its producers are targeting an early 2027 streaming premiere, subject to distribution arrangements.

Below Deck | Superyacht Foodie Adventures

The Art of Ferrari: A $195 Coffee-Table Book for Serious Enthusiasts

Ferrari has inspired countless books, but The Art of Ferrari by Michael Köckritz is positioned as a particularly impressive addition to the enthusiast's library.

The 400-page hardcover volume examines Ferrari's history, design, automobiles and larger cultural influence through more than 300 illustrations, exclusive interviews and archival material.

Developed in collaboration with Ferrari, the book explores the relationship between engineering, luxury, art and the emotional appeal of the Italian sports car.

With a listed price of $195, it is clearly aimed at collectors and serious enthusiasts rather than casual readers.

Another publication to watch is Günther Raupp's Ferrari: The Endurance Racing Legend, an illustrated tribute to the marque's long-distance racing accomplishments, scheduled for international release in December 2026.

The Art of Ferrari

The FBI's War Against the Mafia: A New Look at America's Five Families

For readers interested in the real criminal organizations behind movies such as The Godfather and Goodfellas, The FBI's War Against the Mafia offers an absorbing addition to the true-crime bookshelf.

Written by Frank Storey and published in August 2026, the book examines the federal investigation into the leadership of New York's five major organized-crime families.

The narrative provides an insider's perspective on the law-enforcement operations, personalities and prosecutions that transformed the American Mafia.

Another noteworthy 2026 release is a revised edition of Black Mass: Whitey Bulger, the FBI, and a Devil's Deal by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill.

That notorious Boston story remains a compelling examination of what happens when criminal informants, political influence and law enforcement become entangled.

The FBI's War Against the Mafia

Superyacht and Feadship: Two Extraordinary Books About Life at Sea

For readers whose idea of the perfect coffee-table book involves a vessel with its own helicopter deck, beach club and wine cellar, the luxury publishing industry has delivered two notable titles.

Superyacht: Inside the World's Most Incredible Superyachts, by Peter Martin, was published in July 2026. Its lavishly illustrated pages explore leading yacht designers, shipyards and some of the extraordinary details that distinguish today's largest private vessels.

The book includes more than 300 images and interviews with major figures in the yacht-design industry.

At an even more exclusive level is Assouline's Feadship, a spectacular oversized volume released in February 2026 and written by John Weich.

Drawing from the Dutch shipbuilder's archives, the 220-page book explores some of the world's most elaborate custom-built yachts.

These are the kinds of books that belong in a waterfront mansion, a yacht owner's private library or an exceptionally well-appointed cigar lounge.

Superyacht | Feadship

Horse Racing Author Lenny Shulman at the Kentucky Book Festival

Racing historian and longtime BloodHorse journalist Lenny Shulman is among the authors appearing at the 2026 Kentucky Book Festival.

His featured title, A.P. Indy: Champion Racehorse and Breed-Shaping Sire, examines one of the most important Thoroughbreds of the modern era.

A.P. Indy was a son of Seattle Slew and grandson of Secretariat who won the Belmont Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic before establishing an extraordinary legacy at stud.

Shulman's appearance offers racing enthusiasts an opportunity to meet an author with decades of firsthand knowledge of the industry's biggest personalities.

Author Appearance Details

Bluegrass Book Con Brings Readers and Authors Together

Lexington is becoming a particularly interesting destination for book lovers this November.

The Bluegrass Book Con takes place at the Central Bank Center from November 13 through 15, bringing together authors, publishers, independent booksellers and enthusiasts from across the region.

The event features book signings, author meet-and-greets, vendors and special literary experiences.

While not exclusively devoted to Thoroughbred racing, its Kentucky location makes it an attractive destination for readers who may also want to explore the state's horse farms, racing heritage and bourbon country.

Event Information

Miami Book Fair Welcomes Nearly 500 Authors

The annual Miami Book Fair returns to Miami Dade College's Wolfson Campus for eight days of discussions, author appearances, publishing exhibits and literary celebrations.

The 2026 lineup includes Margaret Atwood, Colson Whitehead, Tony Shalhoub, Jeff Garlin, Marlon James and numerous other prominent writers.

Colson Whitehead's appearance is particularly interesting for readers of American crime fiction. His Harlem Trilogy explores the world of ambition, corruption, criminal enterprises and shifting loyalties in mid-century New York.

The Street Fair takes place November 20–22, with hundreds of booksellers and publishers participating.

For South Florida readers who enjoy meeting authors and discovering new books, the fair is one of the season's most worthwhile cultural events.

Miami Book Fair Calendar

Keeneland Library Announces Three Racing Author Events

One of America's most respected Thoroughbred research libraries is offering three exceptional literary programs for racing enthusiasts.

November 20, 2026: Remi Bellocq discusses Horses Are Funny, his collection of racing cartoons and illustrations.

December 9, 2026: International horse owner and racing executive Barry Irwin discusses his novel A Knight Errant, which explores the unpredictable life of a racehorse and the people surrounding it.

January 21, 2027: David Chaffetz presents Raiders, Rulers, and Traders: The Horse and the Rise of Empires, examining the horse's extraordinary influence on civilization.

All three presentations are part of Keeneland Library's ticketed lecture series, with opportunities to purchase books and have them signed during post-event receptions.

Full Schedule & Reservations