Friday’s openings: Spies and a singing crocodile

Above : Christian Bale, Marot Robbie and John David Washington star in “Amsterdam.” (Photo/Walt Disney Studios)

Only two movies are listed as opening “wide” this coming Friday. Others may open, too, as they usually do. But we won’t know for a day or two.

Meanwhile, here are the two scheduled openings:

“Amsterdam” : Written and directed by David O. Russell , this offbeat comedy-drama features a trio of friends – played by Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington – who are framed for a murder that shakes the world.

Russell, who has made a few good films over the years (“Silver Linings Playbook,” “American Hustle”) is getting panned for this one.

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter asks, “Can any film be called satisfying when the storytelling is so convoluted it takes an hour or more to settle on the kind of story it wants to tell, let alone a cohesive tone in which to tell it?”

Robbie Collin of the (UK) Daily Telegraph wrote, “ ‘Amsterdam’ might encompass 15 years of history, straddle two continents and throw in innumerable subplots, but it becomes increasingly hard to shake the sense that you’re watching a very thin idea twiddling its thumbs.”

“Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” : Based on the children’s book written by Bernard Waber , co-directors Will Speck and Joseph Gordon tell the music-minded story of a family moving to New York City who discover the title character – a singing saltwater crocodile – living in their attic.

No advance reviews available. Seldom a good sign. I’ll update as the week progresses.