I was in LA quite a bit on business during the 2010’s and really liked it except for one thing, the traffic, which pretty much ruined it. I would often think about how great it must have been in the pre traffic era and the movie gives you a sense of that. You make a good point about the smog, btw. In the movie there’s no smog so it’s sort of an idealized portrayal in that way.
I used to go to LA a lot in the 1980s. I remember one day I was trying to get from Huntington Beach to the airport. I checked out of my hotel 4 hours before my flight and thought I’d have lots of time to spare. No. I ended up barely making by flight with less than 5 minutes to spare.
I remember being on a road that was hopelessly gridlocked. I was really anxious, but the people around me just seemed chill and taking it in stride. I remember a blond woman in a covertible wearing sunglasses while reading a book — not at all bothered.
I think that was the moment I decided never to live in CA.