while scorsese 's bold images and generally smart casting ensure that `` gangs '' is never lethargic , the movie is hindered by a central plot that 's peppered with false starts and populated by characters who are nearly impossible to care about . 
(ROOT (S (SBAR (IN while) (S (NP (NP (NNP scorsese) (POS 's)) (NML (NML (JJ bold) (NNS images)) (CC and) (NML (ADJP (RB generally) (JJ smart)) (NN casting)))) (VP (VBP ensure) (SBAR (IN that) (S (`` ``) (NP (NNS gangs)) ('' '') (VP (VBZ is) (ADVP (RB never)) (ADJP (JJ lethargic)))))))) (, ,) (NP (DT the) (NN movie)) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBN hindered) (PP (IN by) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ central) (NN plot)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VBZ 's) (VP (VP (VBN peppered) (PP (IN with) (NP (JJ false) (NNS starts)))) (CC and) (VP (VBN populated) (PP (IN by) (NP (NP (NNS characters)) (SBAR (WHNP (WP who)) (S (VP (VBP are) (ADJP (RB nearly) (JJ impossible) (SBAR (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB care) (PP (IN about))))))))))))))))))))) (. .)))
(ROOT (S (SBAR (IN ) (S (NP (NP (NNP ) (POS )) (NML (NML (JJ ) (NNS )) (CC ) (NML (ADJP (RB ) (JJ )) (NN )))) (VP (VBP ) (SBAR (IN ) (S (`` ) (NP (NNS )) ('' ) (VP (VBZ ) (ADVP (RB )) (ADJP (JJ )))))))) (, ) (NP (DT ) (NN )) (VP (VBZ ) (VP (VBN ) (PP (IN ) (NP (NP (DT ) (JJ ) (NN )) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT )) (S (VP (VBZ ) (VP (VP (VBN ) (PP (IN ) (NP (JJ ) (NNS )))) (CC ) (VP (VBN ) (PP (IN ) (NP (NP (NNS )) (SBAR (WHNP (WP )) (S (VP (VBP ) (ADJP (RB ) (JJ ) (SBAR (S (VP (TO ) (VP (VB ) (PP (IN ))))))))))))))))))))) (. )))