'Mao' wow in bow

Beresford's pic takes in $6 million

By PAUL CHAI

Goosing a dismal year -- or two, or three -- of Australian films tanking at the box office, Bruce Beresford's "Mao's Last Dancer" has notched some $6 million at the B.O. in two weeks on 266 screens -- and looks to have strong legs, pacing Hollywood entries such as "Couples Retreat" and "The Final Destination." Pic, based on the bestselling memoir by Li Cunxin, took $4 million in its opening week -- the fourth biggest for an Aussie feature. Indie distrib Hopscotch -- and the rest of the Oz biz -- must be dancing with delight.