The film is a sweet road story in which a mother bounces around from state to state with her two sons in search of a husband. Ms. Zellweger is no stranger to road trips. As she put it, she’s gone “across the bottom, around the top. New York to Florida. I’m from Texas, so it’s my favorite thing.”

It was obvious that in the film, the road simply represents searching. Surveying the theater, the Transom wondered what these people were looking for in their lives.

During a party afterward at the East Hampton Mexican restaurant the Blue Parrot, the Transom approached Bob Colacello and asked him.

“I’m searching for a way to finish my next Vanity Fair story and still go to a lot of parties at the beach,” he said.

Across the room, The View’s Joy Behar negotiated table space for two friends. “I’m searching for good guests for my new show—it’s called The Joy Behar Show,” she said. “I want great people to come on the show and give me radical opinions.”

Outside, designer Marc Jacobs was sitting alone, his entourage having just walked inside. He thought about the question for a moment, then looked up, smiling, and said, “Love.”

Party photographer Patrick McMullan was standing next to the porch, having a cigarette. What was he searching for? “I’m looking for a month off. Like, a full month off,” he said. “To be able to have a week is like a vacation, but to be able to have a month, you can really get into things, and, you know, laziness is not always bad.”

He paused for a moment and then added one stipulation. “A month off with no repercussions. With no fires that have to be put out.”

Jon Bon Jovi, a co-owner of the Blue Parrot, approached the front door all smiles. When the Transom asked what he was searching for, he seemed taken aback. But just for a moment. Then he leaned into his swagger and simply said, “A margarita.”

As Mr. Hamilton was leaving the party, the same question was posed to him.

“At this point, it’s time to maintain grace in your life. As you get older, life has a way of debasing you,” he said. “There’s an old expression, ‘When you finally get your head together, your ass is falling apart.’ I want to have a style of life and grace in my life as I get older.”

As he spoke, Radioman, a bearded homeless man so-called for a radio he keeps around his neck, famous for crashing movie parties and film sets, butted in and introduced himself.

“You look great, George,” he said to Mr. Hamilton, who looked uncomfortable, but smiled politely and thanked him.

“That’s what I’m looking for,” the star said. “Dignity.”