In 1998, Smith starred with Gene Hackman in "Enemy of the State". The following year he turned down the role of Neo in "The Matrix" in favor of "Wild Wild West" (1999). Despite the disappointment of "Wild Wild West", Smith has said that he harbors no regrets about his decision, asserting that Keanu Reeves's performance as Neo was superior to what Smith himself would have achieved, although in interviews subsequent to the release of "Wild Wild West" he stated that he "made a mistake on "Wild Wild West". That could have been better."