I think .. in this specific example .. the crazy thing is that these words in that particular character's mouth is exactly how that kind of cop would talk in 1970.
So to me it's less about the social score censorship and more the whitewashing the character in an inauthentic way. Pretending they wouldn't say such things in 1970 when every NYC cop said the N word 10 times a week ...
There's basically identical language in The Godfather, The Taking of Pelham 123, The Shining, The Last Detail (100s more I'm sure)... serving the same "authenticity", staying true to the characters, the time and place, and the story being told.
So to me it's less about the social score censorship and more the whitewashing the character in an inauthentic way. Pretending they wouldn't say such things in 1970 when every NYC cop said the N word 10 times a week ...
There's basically identical language in The Godfather, The Taking of Pelham 123, The Shining, The Last Detail (100s more I'm sure)... serving the same "authenticity", staying true to the characters, the time and place, and the story being told.
Even in its ugliness.