first-time director denzel washington and a top-notch cast 
(ROOT (NP (NP (NML (NML (JJ first) (HYPH -) (NN time)) (NN director)) (NNP denzel) (NNP washington)) (CC and) (NP (DT a) (NML (NN top) (HYPH -) (NN notch)) (NN cast))))
(ROOT (NP (NP (NML (NML (JJ ) (HYPH ) (NN )) (NN )) (NNP ) (NNP )) (CC ) (NP (DT ) (NML (NN ) (HYPH ) (NN )) (NN ))))