How Movies Make Us More Human
From red carpet chaos to VHS rentals in small-town Ontario, one man's life told through the movies that made him.
Cinephileis a sharp, heartfelt, and wildly entertaining celebration of cinema from ESPN broadcaster and podcast host Adnan Virk-part memoir, part movie-lovers' manifesto, and a full-on love letter to the silver screen. Whether he's recounting the surreal night
Moonlightwon Best Picture, reliving his first time meeting De Niro ("Can I call you Bob?"), or ranking Paul Giamatti's most underrated performances, Virk blends pop culture commentary with personal stories, film history, and laugh-out-loud insights.
Drawing from hundreds of episodes of his long-running Cinephile podcast, Virk captures the magic of movies-not just the films themselves, but the moments that surround them: the midnight screenings, the awkward celebrity run-ins, the times we felt seen by characters on-screen more than by the people in our lives.
Structured around iconic actors, unforgettable awards moments, and the emotional themes that connect us all-love, obsession, ambition, failure-
Cinephileexplores what it means to be a fan, a critic, and a human shaped by stories.
Inside, you'll find:
- A film-obsessed memoir full of behind-the-scenes stories from red carpet interviews, ESPN studios, and the Cinephile podcast archives
- Tributes to screen legends like De Niro, Pacino, Almodóvar, and Giamatti-and the unforgettable performances that changed Adnan's life
- Cinematic reflections on identity, faith, culture, and coming of age, from growing up above a gas station in rural Canada to broadcasting at the Oscars
If you've ever sobbed through
Tokyo Story, argued about
Heat, or felt seen by a character on-screen more than anyone in real life-then
Cinephileis for you.