plays like john le carré with a couple of burnt-out cylinders . 
(ROOT (S (VP (VBZ plays) (PP (IN like) (NP (NP (NNP john) (NNP le) (NNP carré)) (PP (IN with) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN couple)) (PP (IN of) (NP (ADJP (VBN burnt) (HYPH -) (RP out)) (NNS cylinders)))))))) (. .)))
(ROOT (S (VP (VBZ ) (PP (IN ) (NP (NP (NNP ) (NNP ) (NNP )) (PP (IN ) (NP (NP (DT ) (NN )) (PP (IN ) (NP (ADJP (VBN ) (HYPH ) (RP )) (NNS )))))))) (. )))