BUZZWORTHY: John Hawkes In 'The Playroom'

In 2011, John Hawkes was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Winter's Bone — the film that catapulted Best Actress nominee Jennifer Lawrence into a whole new fame bracket. Later that year, Hawkes played an enigmatic cult leader in Martha Marcy May Marlene, a film that turned the spotlight on actress Elizabeth Olsen. This year, Hawkes will likely not be sharing the spotlight with any young ingenues; the actor is getting rave reviews — and plenty of Oscar buzz — for his starring role in Julia Dyer's The Playroom, one of the Tribeca Film Festival's most talked-about feature films.

Set in 1970s suburbia, The Playroom follows Maggie and her younger siblings as they spend the night telling each other stories in the attic. "Downstairs, as their parents entertain guests over the course of a gin-soaked evening, truths are unearthed and betrayals come to light," reads the film's synopsis. "With standout performances from John Hawkes, Molly Parker, and a cast of talented young actors, Julia Dyer's second feature is an honest and challenging look at the reality behind the façade of a seemingly perfect American family."

Showtimes start April 21.