Who is Rick Talbot from Hollywood: A Novel and what is their importance?

Rick Talbot is a film critic, whose character is based on well known and industry-respected critic, the late Gene Siskel. The conversations between Chinaski and Talbot make reference to Chinaski's emerging experiences of self and of compassion. Talbot's enthusiasm for the movies and interest in the process of making them also provides a telling contrast to Chinaski's cynicism and casualness.